flooding – Maritime Accident Casebook

MFV Iúda Naofa Sinking: Cause Unknown But Lessons to be learned.

Accident Investigation, Accident report, fishing, flooding, Sinking Comments Off

Jan 192016

Exactly why the Eire registered MFV Iúda Naofa suddenly flooded and sank off the Butt of Lewis is unknown, says the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB. report, but there are still lessons to be learned.

On the 17th January 2015, the Irish fishing vessel MFV Iúda Naofa departed with five crew from Rossaveal in the company of another vessel MFV Star of Hope. By the night of the 19th January 2015 the vessels were 50 miles North of the Hebrides.

On the morning of the 20th January 2015 with full holds the vessels were proceeding towards the Minches with the intention of returning to Lough Foyle. At approximately 09.00 hrs to 09.30 hrs on 20th January 2015, at position 59°16’N 009°34’W, the forepeak bilge alarm sounded on the MFV Iúda Naofa and water was observed in the bilge.

Alaska Ranger: Poor Maintenance, Poor Regulation Cost Lives

Accident, Accident report, Alaska, capsize, fishing, flooding, liferaft, seafarer fatalities, Sinking Comments Off

Jan 132011

Alaska Ranger

Poor maintenance and inadequate regulatory oversight sank the 58 metre, 1,577 gross tonne, fish-processing vessel Alaska Ranger, cost five lives and led to the biggest rescue effort in US Coastguard history says the newly released US Coast Guard investigation board report. Some 37 recommendations have been made.

One reason for the loss is that there is no single accepted definition of a ‘fish processing vessel’, which enables avoidance by the fishing industry of meeting safety standards. Continue reading »

Alaska Ranger – Conservation Laws May Endanger Seafarers

Accident, Accident report, Alaska, fishing, flooding, Sinking Comments Off

Nov 182009

Alaska Ranger

Loss of a rudder post from the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger lead to progressive flooding exacerbated by poor watertight integrity and a unexpected sternwards movement led to the loss of five of her 47 crew, and would probably have taken more if not for the rescue efforts of the US Coast Guard and the crew of a nearby ship, the Alaska Warrior, and the vessel itself. Most of those on board were asleep at the time of the accident.

The US NTSB has issued its final report on the sinking and in part is critical of conservation laws that prohibit shipowners from replacing unsafe vessels working in some of the harshest working conditions in the world.

Transcend Floods

Accident report, capsize, flooding, Sinking Comments Off

Aug 072009

The fishing vessel Transcend was in the process of shooting her trawl gear when, at around 2050 on 3 June 2009, the crew became aware of flooding in the engine room. Despite employing the vessel’s two bilge pumps and a portable submersible pump, the flooding continued to increase, and at 2145 the skipper issued a “Mayday”, to which a nearby emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV), and another fishing vessel, diverted.