EFFECTIVENESS OF LIFEJACKETS CALLED INTO QUESTION BY MAIB REPORT ON THE FOUNDERING OF FISHING VESSEL LOUISA
Early on 9 April 2016, the fishing vessel Louisa foundered, with the loss of three lives, while anchored close to the shore in Mingulay Bay in the Outer Hebrides.
Photograph of Louisa recovery
The skipper and crew, who had been working long hours before anchoring late the previous evening, had woken suddenly as the vessel was sinking rapidly by the bow. They were able to escape to the aft deck, activate the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and to don lifejackets. However, they were unable to inflate the liferaft as they abandoned the vessel.
Rescuers located the uninflated liferaft and beside it found the skipper and one crewman unresponsive and face down in the water, despite wearing approved abandonment lifejackets.
The MAIB investigation included salvaging the wreck to determine the cause of flooding, inspection and testing of the liferaft, lifejacket trials and testing, and a review of the search and rescue response. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has since taken action to enhance its guidance in respect of liferaft servicing requirements. The circumstances of this accident, and subsequent trials and testing undertaken, have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the lifejackets worn by Louisa’s skipper and crew. Recommendations have been made to Louisa’s owners regarding vessel maintenance, safety equipment servicing and risk assessments, and to the liferaft servicing company and its sub-contractor in respect of work processes.
For the full story and report visit:
http://bit.ly/2gl5YK2 LACK OF SURVEYORS AT UK MCA HIGHLIGHTED AS A PROGRAMME OF MODERNISATION GETS UNDERWAY
The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is modernising the way the UK Ship Register operates with a number of new initiatives being rolled out as the Agency is also addressing the issue of a shortfall in surveyors on its books.
At the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports, attendees were informed that the MCA is considering increasing the fee structure for the UK Ship Register to above 2016 levels.
The registry is working to improve the response time for enquiries to one working day, while for complex issues it will take three working days. Increasing ship registry fees would match the higher levels of service being offered, the MCA said. The register also plans to roll out a package fee option in April 2018. Further, a new online ship registry service is expected to be completed by Christmas this year.
The suggestion that the MCA could become a GovCo – a privately held state-owned company that is subject to government oversight but with greater commercial freedom – was argued as currently unnecessary, especially as the transition would take between three and five years, while Brexit will continue to parliamentary schedule until at least 2019.
Read the story in full online:
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8 | The Report • September 2017 • Issue 81
Marine News
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