Concerns over public access restriction to Danny FII report
Nautilus International has condemned a decision by Panama to prevent public access to a long-awaited report on the investigation into the 2009 loss of the livestock carrier Danny FII.
The Panamanian-registered ship sank in stormy conditions off the coast of Lebanon in December 2009, with the loss of more than 40 seafarers – including the master and electrotechnical officer, who were both UK Nautilus members.
The Union had raised repeated concerns over the slow progress of the flag state’s investigation of the loss and the failure to produce a report on the incident even though Panamanian officials had stated as far back as October 2010 that publication was ‘imminent’.
The report was finally lodged with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at the end of July, but it cannot be opened or downloaded via the UN agency’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) database. As a result, other flag state officials, family members and unions have been unable to read the findings.
Nautilus is protesting to the IMO and the Panamanian Maritime Authority about the lack of access to the report. General secretary Mark Dickinson commented: ‘We are utterly appalled that after all this time the report is not publicly available. Ever since the ship was lost, the families of those who died have been treated with contempt and the move to withhold the results of the investigation adds further insult to injury.
Danny FII sank in stormy conditions off the coast of Lebanon in December 2009
(Image Source: Shipspotting)
‘This was a very major casualty with significant loss of life and there was worrying evidence suggesting the Danny FII had suffered from safety problems before the accident,’ he pointed out.
‘It is therefore imperative that there is transparency and disclosure to demonstrate that concerns have been properly addressed and that investigations had assessed technical issues including the potential effects of any alterations to hull or equipment, and the factors affecting the stability of the vessel.
‘Above all, it is essential that the relatives of those who died, and the shipping industry in general, can be given some comfort and reassurance that lessons have been learned to prevent similar disasters in the future,’ Mr Dickinson added. ‘The IMO secretary general has set the worthy objective of halving deaths at sea, but that will never be achieved if this sort of obstruction continues.’
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