As UK MAIB describes, a narrowboat that had been tied up to a riverbank broke free from its moorings and was carried quickly downstream in a strong current that had resulted from heavy rainfall.
The incident
The owner was on board at the time and did not have time to start the engine. The narrowboat came to a stop when it became pinned to guard piles, which protected a nearby weir.
The local fre and rescue services were called out to the emergency, and rescued the owner using an infatable boat. They then made the narrowboat fast to the guard piles. Despite numerous attempts, the authority responsible for managing the river was unable to contact the barge owner, and it remained attached to the guard piles for some considerable time.
The owner had not insured the narrowboat, and it had no licence permitting it to be moored on the river. As a result, the owner left the boat in the precarious position for several months and made no attempt to recover it.
The weather conditions worsened over the next few months, with very strong currents due to the river fooding. The river authority was busy with safety operations so was unable to move the narrowboat on behalf of the owner.
With the river in full food and fowing through the guard piles and over the weir, the narrowboat eventually broke free of its temporary moorings and was carried into the weir sluice.
The boat started to take on water and partially sank. As this now posed a food risk hazard due to the narrowboat partially blocking the weir, the river authority mobilised its local tug to tow the narrowboat from the weir in order to prevent further damage. However, during their attempts to tow it clear of the area, the narrowboat continued to rapidly take on water and it eventually sank in the navigable part of the river before the tug could tow it out of the way.
The submerged narrowboat now posed a hazard to navigation, and it was marked at one end with an orange marker buoy. Licensed river users were notifed via email and social media that this section of the river was closed to navigation, and the river website gave details of the submerged wreck.
Unfortunately, 2 months after the narrowboat sank, a motor cruiser ignored the instructions that the section of the river in way of the wreck was closed. It hit the wreck and became stranded on it.
The wreck was eventually removed when river conditions allowed for safe operations to be carried out.
Lessons learned
- All boat users are reminded to take care when mooring their vessels, and to remember that conditions can change quickly. Fast moving currents, wind and tide will put moorings and mooring ropes to the test. Tey should therefore be checked regularly.
- The lack of insurance on the narrowboat prevented the owner from appointing a towage company to bring his boat of the guard piles and re-locate it to a safe position. Had the boat been properly insured and licensed to operate in this area, it is likely that the initial minor incident would not have developed into a major accident.
- River users should familiarise themselves with local information before embarking on a trip. In this instance, by checking the river authority’s notices, users would have been informed of the hazard posed by the wreck and that a section of the river was closed. If there is any doubt, always ask before departing.
