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


Poor posture, inadequate seating and a host of other factors can lead to life- changing injuries on RIBs as 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).


When you are trying to promote the fun element of an activity, telling your customers that it can be hazardous might appear counterproductive. This could explain the reluctance of the ‘small-craft passenger/ experience ride’ industry to acknowledge and take action on the findings from recent accident investigations.


However, until the lessons are acknowledged and appropriate actions taken, passengers will continue to suffer life-changing injuries and possibly death as the MAIB investigation report into the RIB Seadogz accident illustrates. If this sounds like a hard-hitting message, it is meant to be.


MAIB has investigated numerous accidents involving RIBs over recent years, many of which are referred to in this article. While the early investigations focused on the usual crop of collisions and groundings, it was not until the investigation into the heavy landing of the RIB Celtic Pioneer in 2008 that passenger vulnerability to injury came into focus.


That investigation report drew on recent academic and practical research to highlight the importance of good seating, posture and handholds to help mitigate against spinal injuries. The particularly vulnerable part of the spine was found to be the lower lumbar region (L1 to L3), which could suffer wedge compression fractures, but other spinal injuries were not uncommon.


THE REPORT | DEC 2024 | ISSUE 110 | 57


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