Board urges review of ship stability standards

THE Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has expressed concern about the growing number of situations where the stability of boats has been affected by the overloading of vessels.

The MCIB has urged Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to review and revise the current code of practice for fishing vessels to improve stability standards following an inquiry into a fatal accident near Cork Harbour last year.

Jerry Hegarty, a crewman onboard the small fishing vessel Carraig An Iasc, drowned after the boat capsized and sank at Ringabella Bay on January 20, 2011.

The boat was hit by a wave which caused it to roll over 180 degrees, throwing Mr Hegarty and the vessel’s captain, Jamie Fitzgerald, overboard. Mr Fitzgerald managed to swim ashore and raise the alarm.

Mr Hegarty, a 38-year-old from Mahon, Cork, got into difficulties and disappeared beneath the waves.

The MCIB report noted that Mr Hegarty was not wearing a personal flotation device and stressed it was the responsibility of all captains to ensure crew wore lifejackets. It recommended the minister should issue a safety notice to all skippers and owners of fishing vessels to remind them of their legal responsibility.