AURORA - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: AURORA
GAMA reference: 2018-087
Data da ocorrência acidental: 11-05-2018
Circulated on: 31-08-2018
Published on: 01-10-2018
Casualty Event: Flooding (massive/progressive)
Summary
On 11 May 2018, AURORA departed Armação de Pêra beach with one skipper and three passengers for a maritime-tourism excursion to the sea caves. While inside Capitães sea cave, the skipper engaged astern propulsion as a wave entered the cave. Water entered through two open stern drains, and a second wave caused substantial flooding, reduced propulsion effectiveness and moved the craft towards the beach inside the cave. The passengers disembarked onto the beach. The skipper attempted to reposition the flooded craft and leave the cave, but a head sea caused it to capsize to starboard. The passengers and skipper were rescued without serious injury. AURORA was later towed partially submerged and was a total loss.
Safety recommendations
Actions Taken
The vessel owner installed two non-return self-draining stern fittings and an electric bilge pump.
Lessons learned
Openings capable of allowing water ingress should be secured before operating with the sea astern or making sternway. Sea conditions should be reassessed continuously when entering confined coastal features such as caves. Maritime-tourism operations should have sufficient crew to maintain an effective lookout, control the craft and supervise passengers, particularly where manoeuvring space is restricted and wave behaviour may change rapidly.