Rambler 100 Capsize – Lessons For Tugs?

 Accident, Accident report, capsize  No Responses »
Jan 072013
 
Rambler-100. The front stayed on but the keel fell off.

Rambler-100. The front stayed on but the keel fell off.

One might not normally compare tugs and racing yachts but both have a knack for capsizing, or girting, fast often with tragic results for the crew. Some of the lessons and suggestions from the investigation into the capsize of Rambler 100 by Eire’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board may equally apply to tugs and similar vessels.

While manoeuvring, part of the Rambler-1oo’s keel snapped off, not uncommon in one-off built yachts. Within 15 second she was laid on her side and turned turtle

in less than 60 seconds. Fortunately her crew survived. While tugs girt for different reasons the challenges of surviving capsize are very similar.

MCIB’s conclusions and suggestions are:

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Got Your Flares, EPIRB, VHF, Liferaft? You’re Not Safe Yet

 Accident report, capsize, maritime safety news, Sinking  No Responses »
Aug 192011
 

SOLAS B equipment pack

Crabber Léim an Bhradán, with two crew aboard, had every thing required for emergency communications: flares, EPIRB, VHF as well as a liferaft but none of it worked when she capsized at about 1400 on the morning of Saturday 30th October 2010. The incident serves as a cautionary tale whatever size vessel you’re on.

Her inflatable liferaft sat unsecured in a cradle atop the wheelhouse. It was not equipped with a hydrostatic release or weak-link that would result in the liferaft opening automatically and the painter was not attached to the vessel. The two crew then found themselves faced with trying to open the canister while it floated free.

One of the two men was able to cut the canister straps with a key.

Meanwhile the vessel’s EPIRB went down with the boat. It was in the wheelhouse, not in an external float-free holder, so could not float to the surface and activate.

The men finally boarded the SOLAS equipment pack in the liferaft and fired off two red parachute flares but there were no other vessels around to see them. An hour later they saw a Coast Guard helicopter and fired an orange smoke flare which was not seen by the helicopter, which was on a training flight. Continue reading »

MCIB: MOB Mystery, Wasn’t Wearing Lifejacket

 Accident, Accident report, fatality, fishing, fishing boat,, Man Overboard  No Responses »
Sep 242010
 
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Victim's position

Marijus Rudakov fell overboard from the FV Alma Amy and drowned. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Just another one of those sad tiny tragedies doom themselves to a watery death and their families to grief by not wearing a lifejacket.

Ireland’s Maritime Casualty Investigation Board points out in its report “It is a statutory obligation for fishermen whilst on the deck of a fishing vessel to wear suitable lifejackets”.

Wearing a lifejacket is arguably also a fisherman’s obligation to his family.

Why Mr. Rudakov fell overboard is unknown. He can’t tell because he wasn’t wearing a lifejacket.

The harrowing attempts to save Mr. Rudakov are outlined in the MCIB report:

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