Crew fatality highlights risk of PWC launching
The Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands published a report of the investigation into the accident resulting in a fatality during the launching of a personal water craft on board the motoryacht 'Vinydrea'.…
"When the lowering of the PWC re-commenced," the report continues, "the lifting harness failed and both the PWC and the crewmember fell into the sea. The PWC landed on its side and righted itself and the crewmember landed on top of the PWC and fell into the water." The crewmember remained conscious but it was apparent that he was in severe pain. After being retrieved from the water, he was transferred to a local hospital for treatment but on 23 July 2010, the crewmember died from internal injuries received during the accident.
Although SMS procedures required the unmanned launching of PWC, with boarding only after the PWC was waterborne, it had become standard practice on board to 'ride' the first launched PWC from main deck level to the water.
The investigation into the accident later found that a combination of a failure to follow operational procedures, a lack of on board maintenance and inspection and a failure to act on identified deficiencies in maintenance all contributed to this accident. "Although SMS procedures required the unmanned launching of PWC, with boarding only after the PWC was waterborne," the report reveals, "it had become standard practice on board to 'ride' the first launched PWC from main deck level to the water."
It was not possible for the report to cite a single event or action as the cause of the accident, but rather a sequence of events and circumstances ultimately led to the accident occurring and the severity of its consequences. The report concludes the investigation with a set of safety lessons that can be taken away from the accident and utilised by other superyacht crew.
"The failure of the master to implement procedure DP3 (jet ski launching) on board Vinydrea was the primary cause of the deckhand losing his life in this accident." The report continues that, "the use of non-approved or tested lifting harnesses, coupled with an ineffective inspection and maintenance regime contributed significantly to the failure of the lifting harness, thus causing the accident to occur. The level of compliance with the ISM Code requirements on board Vinydrea had fallen below that required by both Edmiston Yacht Management and the ISM Code itself."
It is essential that lessons such as these are published in the industry so that similar accidents can be prevented in the future. Superyacht crew must develop a safety culture where information can be shared and incidents can be used to improve the industry. The full report of the accident can be read here.
NEW: Sign up for SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
NEW: Sign up for
SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek