The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation has issued report regarding a fatal accident involving a person on board the charter yacht Desdemona, on 21 September 2015, in the area of the approach of Rostock-Warnemunde.
Specifically, on the day of the accident, the yacht left den Danish Port of Gedser power driven at about 1000 and then sailed towards Rostock. Wind forces between 4 and 5 Bft prevailed.
Shortly before 1300, the approach of Rostock was passed and the voyage was subsequently continued at the red buoy line of the sea canal Warnemunde outside the fairway. The crew decided to already take down the sails during the harbor mode and call at the port of Warnemunde with engine power.
At 1345, a crewmember suddenly fell overboard while attempting to assist in taking down the sails when the yacht was between the fairway buoys 9 and 11. In all likelihood, a swell induced fierce movement of the yacht caused the fall. Despite immediately initiated search measures of the remaining three crewmembers they did not manage to take him back on board. He, as well as the other crewmembers, did not wear a lige jacket and was not secured by means of safety rope.
The casualty lost his consiousness shortly after having fallen into the water and sank into the Baltic Sea. The rescue forces alerted immediately a few minutes afterwards were unable to find the sailor.
The corpse of the sailor was found on 1 October 2015 off Rostock-Makgrafenheide by a navy craft and recovered by the crew of the Waterways Police boat WARNOW which was called.
The BSU has meanwhile largely concluded the investigation on the course of the accident. Furthermore, the BSU currently draws up the investigation report on the very serious marine casualty.
Further details on the incident may be found in the report herebelow
Source & Image credit: BSU
