Heavy weather and heavily laden vessel, a fatal combination for safety

Ireland’s Maritime Casualty Investigation Board issued a report on the flooding of the passenger vessel ‘Mary Ann of Dunloe’ on Lough Leane, Killarney, on 1 September 2016, highlighting safety issues related to emergency preparedness in cases of hazardous weather.

The incident

On the morning of the 1st September 2016, at approximately 11.30 hrs, a passenger vessel carrying twelve tourists was making its way from Ross Castle to the Gap of Dunloe. As the vessel approached Foilcoille Point on Lough Leane, conditions worsened with high winds and steep waves. The vessel became swamped and passengers were tipped into the water. Three other vessels came to the rescue. All passengers and the crewmember of the casualty vessel were rescued with no serious injuries having been sustained.

Conclusions

1. The voyage was undertaken in weather conditions which were not suitable for the operation of a laden vessel. Passage planning had not been carried out for the entire route of the voyage.
2. The vessel in its laden condition had insufficient freeboard to prevent downflooding and, as a result, it was swamped in the conditions encountered.
3. Flares are carried on board the vessel, as required by the P2 Licence, however the flares were stored forward in the vessel and were not easily accessible by the vessel’s Master.
4. No attempt was made to send a MAYDAY alert or call for the assistance of the emergency services. In an emergency situation it is prudent practice to request assistance by all possible means.
5. The rescue was effected by the intervention of the other craft, which either spotted the stricken vessel or were made aware of the situation by the passing waterbus.
6. The vessel’s Master did not hold the required Commercial Endorsement to act as the Master of this passenger vessel.
7. The first vessel, which came to the aid of the ‘PV Mary Ann of Dunloe’ was unable to deploy lifebuoys aboard as they were secured in a manner which precluded ready deployment.

Recommendations

Upon investigation, the MCIB provided the following advice:

• Met Éireann should consider extending the current Met Éireann inland lakes forecasts to include other large inland lakes for example Lough Leane.
• The Irish Coast Guard should consider extending the current inland lakes VHF coverage to include other large inland lakes for example Lough Leane.
• The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport should consider reviewing the licencing requirements with regard to the carriage of bicycles and passengers on the licensed lake vessels on Lough Leane, in particular in relation to the freeboard issues identified in this report.
• The National Parks and Wildlife Service should consider making it a requirement of their Permit to Operate on lakes for all licenced vessels to carry operating VHF radios.

Further details can be found herebelow: