A workboat engaged on the Dublin Bay pipeline was not keeping a proper lookout when it collided with a yacht race committee boat and injured five people, according to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
Five of the six crew members aboard the yacht Dai Mouse had to receive hospital treatment, some for serious injuries, after the collision in Dublin Bay on May 12th, 2001. None of the six on board the workboat Voe Trader were injured. The investigation into the collision is among a series of new reports just published by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB).
The Dai Mouse, skippered and owned by Mr Alan McGettigan, was serving as the principal race committee boat for the Royal Alfred Yacht Club Baily Bowl race. There were a large number of yachts in the area at the time. The workboat was travelling at a speed of nine knots from Poolbeg to Dún Laoghaire for a crew change.
The report says that the Dai Mouse crew were "extremely lucky" that contact was made a slight angle to port with the Voe Trader, as this pushed the yacht around. Most serious injuries were sustained by Ms Annette Bennett, who fractured her right arm, cracked her left shoulder blade, dislocated fingers on her left hand, sustained an ankle injury and multiple bruises. It took 20 minutes to transfer her to the Dún Laoghaire lifeboat due to the extent of her injuries.
The master of the workboat said that he was on the bridge throughout the time of the collision, although this is disputed by those on board the yacht. He said a crane on the foredeck of the workboat had impeded his vision. The MCIB says the workboat was in breach of several rules under the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea, 1972.
An MCIB report into the loss of a crewman from the Irish fishing vessel Spailpín Fánach off the west coast on May 13th, 2000, says all fishing vessels should carry appropriate radio equipment as required by law. Mr John O'Leary was working on deck off the Co Clare coastline and was preparing to haul nets when he fell overboard the vessel.
Successful efforts were made to recover him but he did not survive. A Mayday alert issued on VHF channel 16 was not picked up by the Irish Coast Guard as marine VHF range is normally line of site range between aerials or up to 30 nautical miles offshore. In a submission to the investigation, Mr O'Leary's sister, Ms Sarah McCarthy, asks why the crew of the vessel didn't sail into Galway harbour rather than Castletownbere, Co Cork, immediately after the accident.
An MCIB report into the sinking of the fishing vessel Kyle Mhór and the loss of Mr Seán Cotter in Bantry Bay on May 31st, 2000, found that the cause was due to a combination of factors, including possible engine failure and movement of ballast which had been removed. The inflatable liferaft on board was lashed down with a rope and was not fitted with a hydrostatic release unit, while lifebuoys were of no use as they had either been lashed down or became entangled in ropes.
The MCIB investigation into the sinking of the ship MV Clipper Cheyenne in Foynes, Co Limerick, on June 3rd, 2002, says that it was caused by a progressive loss of buoyancy and inadequate righting moment. This was in turn due to low stability of the vessel while in "float-in,float-out" or "flo-flo" mode. The ship's chief mate was injured in the incident when he was swept into the water.
The report says the master of the ship should have had documented competence in the operation of such a vessel. It recommends that stability criteria for "flo-flo" operations should be developed and adhered to. It also says loading operations should be agreed with the harbourmaster or competent authority before taking on any cargo.
An MCIB report into the grounding of the Spanish fishing vessel Celestial Dawn in Dingle harbour, Co Kerry, on February 2nd, 2002, says that the crew were saved by the prompt response of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Shannon. It also found that the vessel was not manned or certified in accordance with Irish regulations.
Other MCIB reports published this week include the collision between a cargo ship and a fishing vessel off Hook Head, Co Wexford, on August 24th, 1997, where there were no injuries, and the grounding of fishing vessel Áine off Co Donegal on November 9th, 1997.
