Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, July 4, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    bali indonesia

    Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

    Year in Review: How the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected shipping in 2022

    LR: New requirements for lifting appliances and anchor winches

    Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht

    Two crew members accused over deadly tanker collision

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hull

    AkzoNobel: Quality antifouling coatings can help with CII and EEXI compliance

    nuclear power

    Nuclear shipping inches closer to reality: Latest developments

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    CSA scrubbers

    CSA urges OSPAR to improve understanding before enacting scrubber ban

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

    abs training center

    ABS opens smart training center in Athens

    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

    PSC

    AMSA Annual PSC Report: ISM-related deficiencies on the lead

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    European Commission EU

    EU in discussions over maritime and port strategies

    underwater noise from ships

    AMSA: Reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    Germany shadow fleet

    German Government increases vigilance in the Baltic Sea

  • Columns
    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    human factor organizational safety

    Cracking the safety code: Why human factors matter

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    bali indonesia

    Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

    Year in Review: How the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected shipping in 2022

    LR: New requirements for lifting appliances and anchor winches

    Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht

    Two crew members accused over deadly tanker collision

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hull

    AkzoNobel: Quality antifouling coatings can help with CII and EEXI compliance

    nuclear power

    Nuclear shipping inches closer to reality: Latest developments

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    CSA scrubbers

    CSA urges OSPAR to improve understanding before enacting scrubber ban

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

    abs training center

    ABS opens smart training center in Athens

    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

    PSC

    AMSA Annual PSC Report: ISM-related deficiencies on the lead

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    European Commission EU

    EU in discussions over maritime and port strategies

    underwater noise from ships

    AMSA: Reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    Germany shadow fleet

    German Government increases vigilance in the Baltic Sea

  • Columns
    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    human factor organizational safety

    Cracking the safety code: Why human factors matter

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht

by The Editorial Team
June 20, 2019
in Accidents
world racing yacht

Credit: UK MAIB

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

The UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the fatal man overboard incident involving the UK registered world racing yacht ‘CV30’ approximately 1500 nm west of Fremantle, Australia. Simon Speirs was initially secured to the yacht, but before he could be recovered his safety tether hook distorted and suddenly released.

The incident

On 18 November 2017, Simon Speirs fell overboard from the foredeck of the Clipper round the world racing yacht CV30 when approximately 1500nm west of Fremantle, Australia.

At the time of the accident the skipper was on the helm and was sailing CV30 downwind, in very rough seas, to facilitate the lowering of the yankee 3 headsail.

RelatedNews

Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

NTSB Investigation: Fire aboard fishing vessel results in sinking

Five crew, including Simon, all of whom were secured to the yacht by their tethers, were on the foredeck to haul down and secure the yankee 3.

When the sail was ¾ down a large wave on the port quarter caused CV30 to slew to starboard and then to port, leading the yacht to accidentally gybe.

The bowman fell overboard but was then able to haul himself back onboard.

Shortly afterwards, Simon Speirs fell overboard from his position on the starboard side between the forestays.

The skipper tacked CV30 to place Simon on the high side of the yacht, but he was limited in his ability to slow the yacht due to damage sustained during the accidental gybe.

The bowman was unable to reach Simon, who was being dragged along in the water and buffeted against the yacht’s starboard side.

A halyard was passed to him, but as he struggled to secure it to his lifejacket his tether hook distorted and released.

The yacht’s crew immediately initiated the manoverboard (MOB) recovery procedure.

In the prevailing wind and sea conditions, and without full control of the sails, the skipper managed to manoeuvre CV30 alongside Simon, who appeared to be unconscious, 32 minutes later, but following his recovery he was unable to be resuscitated.

 

Findings

Some of the findings of the UK MAIB investigation are as follows:

-Simon Speirs fell overboard from the foredeck of CV30 while the crew were in the process of lowering the headsail, an essential task as the wind strength was increasing. However, the foredeck was a vulnerable place for the crew to be operating in the very rough sea conditions given:

  • The labour intensive and difficult task of lowering a headsail in strong winds.
  • The narrow foredeck and lack of suitable securing points for crews’ short safety tethers.
  • On this occasion, the compromised starboard guardrail that had been damaged 14 days earlier.

-Although a temporary repair of CV30’s guardrail was rigged following the stanchion base fracture, the lack of support from the two stanchion bases would have compromised the guardrail’s effectiveness, potentially contributing to Simon falling overboard and hampering his recovery.

-The skipper’s ability to supervise effectively was compromised as he was also the helmsman, a task that was safety critical in itself due to the need to keep the yacht on a steady course to avoid unintentional gybing. Consequently, skippers would benefit from having improved guidance on the crew numbers required to conduct sail change evolutions for a variety of wind and sea conditions to ensure sufficient crew are on deck.

-The required procedure for a tethered MOB was only included in Clipper Ventures’ standard operating procedure, was not included in the race crew manual or wet notes and was generally only talked through, rather than drilled.

-This investigation has concluded that Simon’s tether hook became caught under the starboard forward mooring cleat, resulting in the hook being loaded laterally, distorting and releasing. The importance of the tether hook orientating itself to load the tether longitudinally is specified neither in the tether standard, ISO 12401, nor in the tether’s instructions.

-Simon was attached by his long tether, and the combined effect of the hooking point location and his tether length resulted in him being dragged alongside the yacht, hindering his recovery.

-There were several examples that indicate that preventative maintenance or prerace inspection could have been improved. The resulting issues, while able to be managed at sea by the crew, were unnecessary, and could have been avoided had a more thorough planned maintenance system been in place or some of the issues 64 been solved through improved design. The cumulative effect of the defects was to increase workload for the crew, contributing to their fatigue, lowering morale and detracting from sailing and gaining sailing experience.

 

Safety issues

  • The dangers of lateral loading of tether hooks and the importance of tether securing points arrangement to ensure tether hooks cannot become entangled.
  • The importance of adequately risk assessing foredeck operations to ensure sufficient control measures are put in place to keep crew safe.
  • Ensuring tethered man overboard recovery procedures are effective and regularly drilled.
  • Minimising yacht defects to avoid undue workload for the crew, contributing to their fatigue, lowering morale and increasing the chance of mistakes

 

Recommendations

UK MAIB made safety recommendations to:

  • the BSI Committee, World Sailing and Spinlock regarding updating guidance to raise awareness of the dangers of laterally loading safety tether hooks.
  • the Clipper Ventures to review and update its risk assessments and procedures particularly for foredeck operations and methods for recovery of both tethered and untethered man overboards, as well as yacht maintenance and repair aspects.

 

Safety recommendations shall in no case create a presumption of blame or liability.

 

Explore more herebelow:

Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht

 

Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yachtLessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht
Lessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yachtLessons learned: Man overboard fatality from world racing yacht
Tags: accident reportsfatality onboardlessons learnedman overboardUK MAIByachts
Previous Post

Clean Arctic Alliance calls on immediate ban of HFO in Arctic waters

Next Post

First of its kind biofuel to be used by selected Maersk customers

Related News

accidents regulations
Videos

Watch: Key equipment that can aid in MOB recovery

July 2, 2025
CHIRP
Safety

CHIRP: Annual Digest of Reports and Insight Articles 2024

July 1, 2025
NTSB
Accidents

NTSB shares interim report on fatal ship crash into Brooklyn Bridge

July 1, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: ‘Sleeping hygiene’ is critical to safety

June 30, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Never rely on a single navigation appliance

June 27, 2025
NTSB Investigation
Accidents

NTSB Investigation: Towing vessel grounds due to captain’s maneuver

June 26, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA