The UK MAIB has published investigation report regarding the capsize and flooding of berthed scallop dredger Fredwood resulting in loss of the vessel.
The incident
On 6 April 2016, the UK registered fishing vessel Fredwood flooded and sank on a drying berth in Maryport, England. When Fredwood took the ground, it listed away from the quay wall and the weight of the vessel came to rest on a sonar tube that protruded from the bottom of the hull. The tube was pushed upwards and the hull planking around it was damaged. This caused the vessel to flood on the rising tide. All of the crew were rescued by local fire service personnel and there were no injuries or pollution. However, the vessel was declared a constructive total loss.
Findings
- Fredwood flooded because several hull planks were damaged when the weight of the vessel came to rest on a protruding sonar tube when the vessel grounded on its drying berth.
- Fredwood was pulled onto the quay wall and started to list away from the quay wall because its mooring lines became taut and were not tended as the tide ebbed. This caused Fredwood to roll to port and its weight came onto the protruding sonar tube.
- The sonar tube presented a constant hazard to the vessel on drying berths; its removal once the device had become redundant would have eliminated the threat of damage to the hull planking.
- Fredwood was lost because the crew took no emergency response actions when it rolled heavily away from the quay. The skipper and his crew underestimated the danger the vessel was in and were all probably asleep as the water levels rose on the flood tide.
- The Maryport Harbour Authority was not sufficiently resourced to manage and maintain its commercial docks and port safety management system.
Recommendations
Recommendation has therefore been made to the Maryport Harbour Authority designed to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to manage its commercial docks and maintain and develop its port safety management system.
Further details may be found in the report herebelow
The UK MAIB further published a safety flyer highlighting a number of the safety issues related to the foresaid incident.
Source: UK MAIB