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Report into trawler loss published
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the flooding and foundering of the 'Opportune-LK 209' off Scotland, with uncertainty remaining about the cause, on March 24, 2024, about 36 nautical miles east of Lerwick,. Thes eight crew were later rescued uninjured from the vessel’s liferafts by Coastguard helicopters. The vessel was not recovered. The key safety issues identified were: • The vessel foundered due to a rapid and uncontrolled engine room flood. • The source of the flood could not be established. The most likely cause was a failure of the vessel’s seawater pipework, parts of which were ferrous, over 20 years old and difficult to inspect. Corrosion might have gone unnoticed. • The crew were unable to control the flood because seawater inlet valves were not easily accessible and electric bilge pumps could not be operated from outside the space. • Faced with a rapidly sinking vessel the skipper raised the alarm, and the crew abandoned ship in good time. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been recommended to update its guidance to its surveyors, fishing vessel owners and crew on the management of seawater pipework in existing vessels. The owner has been recommended to ensure that its crews understand the seawater pipework system and regularly drill their response to a flood.
Trawler sank off Lerwick - crew rescued
The 'Opportune' sank 36 nautical miles northeast of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands on the morning of March 24, 2024. The trawler started taking on water around 5 a.m. The crew abandoned ship onto the life raft. They managed to first send out a DSC (digital selective calling) radio distress call before an emergency beacon was activated to alert emergency services and relay their location. The wind on scene was northerly, force 6-7, with an air temperature of about five degrees Celsius. The Lerwick lifeboat, the Sumburgh Coastguard helicopter and a Norwegian rescue helicopter responded to provide assistance. The crew were rescued by helicopter and taken to Sumburgh Airport, where all arrived safe and sound. Report with video: https://visserij.nl/2024/03/24/acht-vissers-gered-van-zinkend-vissersschip-bij-shetland-eilanden/?fbclid=IwAR2v92XKN0iXkowbvjUfaTUemQ_h6jriBHFB1jSo38qhbYv5JjOGzgc0AFs
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