Report on passenger boat finds litany of failures
The 33ft vessel,‘Flying Horse’ was carrying 14 passengers, including one child, and one crew member, when the incident happened on June 29, 2012.
According to a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report, prior to departure a representative for the boat’s owner gave the passengers a short safety briefing, pointing out the location of the life jackets. However, no instructions were given as to how to don the life jackets.
The boat had left Ballinskelligs Pier for Skellig Michael at approximately 11am when, 20 minutes later, it “came off a big wave following which a loud bang was heard”.
“The boat commenced flooding and the skipper, realising that there was something wrong, turned the boat around and headed back to Ballinskelligs,” the MCIB report said. “After turning the boat around the skipper had difficulty contacting the owner’s representative by phone and was heard shouting down the phone that he was in big trouble. He made no attempt to use the boat’s VHF Radio.”
The report said passengers suggested to the skipper they should put on their life jackets.
“Difficulty was experienced by passengers opening the storage lockers where the life jackets were stowed and also finding life jackets for all passengers,” the report said. “Passengers became somewhat panicky when it became apparent that there was insufficient life jackets for all persons on board. A passenger had to lie on the deck and pull out life jackets from the lockers under the seats. There was insufficient life jackets for two passengers and the skipper, and the life jacket on the child appeared to be too large.”
The boat made it back to Ballinskelligs and the passengers were brought safely ashore but “traumatised.”
Among the findings of the MCIB was that the ‘Flying Horse’ was only licensed to carry 12 passengers and two crew members, a maximum of 14, yet on the day of the incident the craft was carrying 14 passengers and one crew member.
It said the life jacket given to the child, which was too large for her, “could have been ineffective if it had become necessary to abandon the boat.”
MCIB said that, from the position of the incident and time taken to arrive at that position, the vessel must have been travelling at some 18 knots, which would be considered excessive for the prevailing weather conditions.
It said the coast guard was not informed of the number of passengers on board or of a passage plan. “No attempt was made to use the correct procedures after an incident, namely contacting the coast guard immediately on the VHF radio.
“Instead, the skipper opted to contact the owner’s representative by mobile phone, who also neglected to contact the emergency services.”
The MCIB recommended that “the minister continue to enforce the passenger boat regulations in relation to passenger boat operators, including the conditions attached to passenger boat licences”.
