Passenger vessel Oceandiva London breaches hull plating after loss of propulsion

the inland waterways passenger vessel Oceandiva London lost propulsion controlImage credit: Oceandiva London – image courtesy of Andrew Christy.
The inland waterways passenger vessel Oceandiva London lost propulsion control Image credit: Oceandiva London – image courtesy of Andrew Christy.

The UK Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has released its preliminary assessment after, hit a barge and breached its hull plating. At 1430 on 22 June 2023, the inland waterways passenger vessel Oceandiva London (see Figure) lost propulsion control and contacted a moored hopper barge at Halfway Reach on the River Thames, London. Oceandiva London was undergoing propulsion trials as part of its Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) survey required for the issue of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate. The impact damage to Oceandiva London included breaches to its hull plating above the waterline with deformation of decks and structural frames. There were no passengers on board and none of the six crew or thirteen contractors were injured.Oceandiva London’s propulsion and electrical power Continue reading “Passenger vessel Oceandiva London breaches hull plating after loss of propulsion”

MAIB publishes Annual Report 2023

MAIB annual report published for 2023
MAIB annual report published for 2023

It showed the MAIB received 1,592 reports of marine casualties and incidents last year – involving 11741 vessels.
While the report showed the number of occurrences raised was higher than usual, in other respects it had been a “fairly average year”.
27 recommendations were issued last year with 26 of them accepted and 13 which have already been implemented.
In terms of safety issues involving merchant ships, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Captain Andrew Moll OBE, said two accidents stood out last year. Continue reading “MAIB publishes Annual Report 2023”

MAIB report: Two wheelchair users died after wheelyboat capsized

Two wheelchair users died after wheelyboat capsized
Two wheelchair users died after wheelyboat capsized

On 8 June 2022, two wheelchair users lost their lives when a wheelyboat capsized on Roadford Lake, Devon, England. The wheelchair users were residents from a local care home who were participating in a day trip on the lake. When the wheelyboat capsized, the residents who were strapped into their wheelchairs were dragged to the bottom of the lake and drowned. The MAIB investigation found that the wheelyboat had not been correctly maintained, allowing water to leak into the boat and making it unstable, which led to its capsize. The bow ramp seals were not subjected to regular inspection before use and had degraded, compromising the watertight integrity of the wheelyboat. The activity centre had not fully identified the risks or understood the unique needs of operating the wheelyboat with wheelchair users. Continue reading “MAIB report: Two wheelchair users died after wheelyboat capsized”

MAIB issues safety bulletin after fishing vessel Argos Georgia sinks leaving 13 dead

Fishing vessel Argos Georgia sinks leaving 13 deadImage courtesy of Royal Air Force
Fishing vessel Argos Georgia sinks leaving 13 dead Image courtesy of Royal Air Force

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is urging owners, operators and skippers of fishing vessels fitted with side shell doors to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessment of watertight integrity.

Argos Georgia was a longline fishing vessel registered in St Helena. The vessel foundered while on passage from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands to fishing grounds near the island of South Georgia. Of the 27 persons people on board, 13 perished.

The ongoing investigation has found that the shell door in the starboard side of Argos Georgia descended slowly into the fully open position. This allowed significant quantities of water to enter the vessel. Continue reading “MAIB issues safety bulletin after fishing vessel Argos Georgia sinks leaving 13 dead”

Pair trawlers collision results in flooding and sinking of vessel

Pair trawlers collision during routine fish transfer
Pair trawlers have a collision during routine fish transfer

At 1149 on 6 October 2022, the pair trawlers Guiding Light and Guiding Star have a collision during a routine fish transfer. Guiding Star’s stern was breached, and flooded. The crew unsuccessfully attempted to pump out the floodwater, and the vessel foundered about an hour later. The eight crew evacuated to a liferaft, which capsized during the accident; five were recovered to Guiding Light and the remaining three were winched to a coastguard rescue helicopter. All crew survived unharmed.

Safety issues
• The fish transfer had not been risk assessed and, during the operation, Guiding Light’s wheelhouse was left unattended, which meant the skipper was not at the navigational controls to prevent the collision. Continue reading “Pair trawlers collision results in flooding and sinking of vessel”

UK MAIB Safety Digest 2nd edition 2024

MAIB has issued its second Safety Digest of 2024
MAIB has issued its second Safety Digest of 2024

Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued its second Safety Digest of 2024 featuring a collection of lessons learned from a variety of the latest marine accidents involving vessels from the merchant, fishing and recreational sectors.

The sole purpose of the Safety Digest is to prevent similar accidents from happening again. The publication examines and investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide, and other vessels in UK territorial waters. It aims to draw the attention of the marine community to some of the lessons arising from investigations into recent accidents and incidents. Continue reading “UK MAIB Safety Digest 2nd edition 2024”

MAIB report: Fall from height on carrier Equinox Seas kills crewman

Fall from height on carrier kills crewman
Fall from height on carrier Equinox Seas kills crewman

On 17 April 2023, a crewman on board Equinox Seas was fatally injured when he fell 10m down an open ventilation trunk where a fan had been removed for maintenance by the shipyard.

Safety Issues
– The barrier controls in place in the fan room were insufficient to mitigate the risk of falling from height
– The specific risks associated with the fan removal had not been assessed or mitigated, which put staff at risk from those hazards
– Safety on board Equinox Seas was not effectively managed during the entire stay at the shipyard Continue reading “MAIB report: Fall from height on carrier Equinox Seas kills crewman”

MAIB report: Officer’s leg amputated after crane incident

Kommandor Orca deck arrangement image courtesy of www.tugspotter.com
Kommandor Orca deck arrangement image courtesy of www.tugspotter.com

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has released a report after an officer had to have his leg amputated following a crush injury. On 16 August 2022, the second officer of the UK registered survey and supply vessel Kommandor Orca sustained crush injuries to his lower left leg while operating one of the rail-mounted deck cranes. His leg became caught in the crane’s rack and pinion traversing mechanism when he moved the crane aft for a lifting operation. A helicopter transferred the second officer to hospital, where his leg required amputation below the knee. Continue reading “MAIB report: Officer’s leg amputated after crane incident”

Small craft sector must inform and educate customers of dangers to avoid passenger injury says MAIB

Small craft passenger safety is pulled sharply into focus by recent events
Small craft passenger safety is pulled sharply into focus by recent events

Poor posture, inadequate seating and a host of other factors can lead to life-changing injuries on RIBs as small craft passenger safety is pulled sharply into focus by recent events in the small craft sector. If the sector’s reputation is to survive accidents like Seadogz, owners and operators need to start owning best practice, controlling the risks and demonstrating that their trips are safe, says MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch). Continue reading “Small craft sector must inform and educate customers of dangers to avoid passenger injury says MAIB”

Safety warning issued following man overboard from potting vessel Kingfisher with loss of one life

Image source: MAIBSafety warning issued following man overboard from potting vessel Kingfisher
Safety warning issued following man overboard from potting vessel Kingfisher. Image source: MAIB

On 12 July 2024, the crew of the potting vessel Kingfisher (DH110) were engaged in manually shooting a string of creels. A deckhand became entangled in a creel’s leg rope and was pulled overboard, where his personal flotation device (PFD) inflated on immersion. Using the hauling winch, Kingfisher’s crew retrieved the backrope and recovered the now submerged deckhand on board within seven minutes. Despite the efforts of the vessel’s crew, members of a Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat, a paramedic from a His Majesty’s Coastguard rescue helicopter and crew members of an attending Continue reading “Safety warning issued following man overboard from potting vessel Kingfisher with loss of one life”

Capsize and sinking of fishing vessel Angelena: MAIB report

Photo caption: Photograph of Angelena courtesy of TelsWeb
Photograph of Angelena courtesy of TelsWeb UK registered stern trawler Angelena capsized and sank

On 18 June 2021, the UK registered stern trawler Angelena capsized and sank about 8 nautical miles south-east of Exmouth while its fishing gear was being recovered by the lone skipper. The end of the net was full of sand, mud and fish and, once lifted clear of the water, the net swung to away from the vessel’s side and Angelena capsized. The skipper did not have time to raise the alarm before entering the water. The skipper was wearing a lifejacket fitted with a personal locator beacon and managed to swim to the vessel’s liferaft, which had floated free. The skipper activated the personal locator beacon once in the liferaft and was rescued unharmed by a nearby vessel. Continue reading “Capsize and sinking of fishing vessel Angelena: MAIB report”

MAIB report: Contact of chemical tanker Ali Ka with Oikos Jetty

 Damage to Ali Ka
Damage to Ali Ka

At 0436 on 25 October 2022, the Malta registered oil and chemical tanker Ali Ka made contact with the westernmost section of Oikos Jetty 2 at Canvey Island on the River Thames, England. The vessel was departing the berth under compulsory Port of London Authority (PLA) pilotage and without a tug in attendance. The impact caused minor damage to the ship but severe damage to the jetty. Ali Ka grounded close to the pier. Two tugs were deployed and Ali Ka was successfully recovered to Oikos Jetty 1. No one was injured and there was no pollution. It took eleven Continue reading “MAIB report: Contact of chemical tanker Ali Ka with Oikos Jetty”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine