MAIB

On the night of 6 October 2023, a chain link in the lifting arrangement for the dredging gear that was suspended from the raised port derrick on the UK registered scallop dredger Honeybourne III (PD905) failed. The gear fell without warning and struck a deckhand working on the deck below; the deckhand suffered serious head injuries and died on board.

The configuration of a chain on Honeybourne III led over a static pin as part of the quick-release gear for the lifting arrangement is commonly used on board scallop dredgers Continue reading “Safety warning by MAIB following a fatal chain failure on scallop dredger Honeybourne III”

The is a completed preliminary assessment (PA) summary 1/24: Crig-A-Tana by the MAIB.

At 1207 on 12 November 2022, the UK registered 7.47m potter Crig-A-Tana rapidly capsized and foundered approximately 6 nautical miles (nm) south-east of Lizard Point, Cornwall, England while engaged in fishing operations. The two crew members were uninjured and there was no significant pollution as a result of the accident.

At about 0530 on 12 November 2022, Crig-A-Tana sailed from Cadgwith Cove, Cornwall, England with the skipper/owner Continue reading “Capsize and sinking of fishing vessel Crig-A-Tana”

On 15 November 2019, an apprentice engineer died when a FirePro condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system was inadvertently activated in the engine room of the fishing vessel Resurgam (PZ1001) as it was being installed. The apprentice engineer together with a shore engineer and two installation technicians were working in the engine room when the system activated, filling the engine room with the fire-extinguishing aerosol.

Safety issues
– The fire-extinguishing aerosol was hazardous to health when inhaled in significant quantities and these hazards were not identified in the manufacturer’s safety related information Continue reading “Accidental discharge of condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system on beam trawler Resurgam report issued”

The MAIB has issued an accident investigation report into the lifeboat davit failure aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough. On the 4 March 2021, the port lifeboat from RRS Sir David Attenborough fell into the water while the crew were practising lifeboat drills. The investigation found that a critical interlock device on the lifeboat davits had heavily corroded due to lack of maintenance. The interlock failed to operate correctly and subsequently caused the lifeboat to fall from the davit and into the sea with three crew on board. It also found that the installation of the lifeboat davits was not in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and did not meet international regulations. Continue reading “RRS Sir David Attenborough lifeboat davit failure report issued”

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its investigation report into the collision between the general cargo vessel Scot Carrier and the split hopper barge Karin Høj.

The collision resulted in the capsize of the barge with two fatalities in the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme. On 13 December 2021, the UK registered general cargo ship Scot Carrier and the Denmark registered split hopper barge Karin Høj collided in the precautionary area adjacent to the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme, Sweden. As a result of the collision, Karin Høj capsized and its two crew lost their lives. Continue reading “Collision between a general cargo vessel and a split hopper investigation report”

UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published its annual report for 2022, reporting that the branch received 1,263 reports of marine casualties and marine incidents involving UK vessels worldwide or other nations’ vessels in UK waters and commenced 16 investigations.

Merchant Vessels

The deaths of three stevedores on board the Isle of Man registered bulk carrier Berge Mawson in the middle of the year was a stark reminder that the industry still has much work to do to mitigate the hazards posed by noxious atmospheres. Continue reading “UK MAIB Annual Report 2022 published”

At about 0736 on 28 August 2021, the owner and skipper of the lone-operated creel fishing vessel Harriet J accidentally entered the water while shooting the fishing gear. The unmanned vessel motored away and the skipper was neither able to reboard the vessel nor call for assistance. There were no witnesses to the accident and the alarm was raised by the skipper of another fishing vessel working in the area, who observed the unmanned vessel at 0745.

A search was carried out by local fishing boats and emergency services and just before 0900, the skipper was recovered unconscious from the water. Continue reading “MAIB report issued into person overboard from creel fishing vessel with loss of life”

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published the MAIB Safety Digest April 2023, the first of its two biannual publications featuring a wide selection of case studies.

Andrew Moll OBE, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, MAIB writes in his introduction as follows:

Welcome to MAIB Safety Digest April 2023. In my opinion, this is the more important of the MAIB’s biannual Safety Digests because it is published as the northern hemisphere emerges from winter. This is not simply an observation Continue reading “MAIB Safety Digest April 2023 published”

Now, a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report is recommending that racing yacht owners should ensure their auxiliary engines provide the necessary power for their craft to make a safe passage. In addition, the MCIB says risks associated with refuelling outboards at sea need to be highlighted.

The Beneteau First Class 8 (FC8) yacht, Black Magic, was motor sailing using a 3hp outboard and mainsail, on route from Crosshaven, Co Cork to Kinsale Harbour for winter lay-up in December 2021. The owner and skipper of the yacht the sole person onboard for the approximately 19-mile passage. Continue reading “Outboard engine fire causes yacht to sink is finding in MCIB report”