AVÔ RITA - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: AVÔ RITA
GAMA reference: 2024-102
Data da ocorrência acidental: 02-03-2024
Circulated on: 01-04-2024
Published on: 06-05-2024
Casualty Event: Grounding
Summary
On 2 March 2024, AVÔ RITA was approaching Peniche after a fishing voyage when the Master fell asleep while keeping the navigational watch alone. The vessel continued on autopilot and grounded near Peniche East Breakwater with the engine running at half ahead. All six crew members abandoned safely. Wave action and an open engine-room access caused progressive flooding, loss of electrical power and propulsion, and constructive total loss.
Safety recommendations
SR01-2024/102,
to the owner of AVÔ RITA:
Assess organising navigational watches aboard the company vessels so that two persons are present in the wheelhouse during the approach to the port of arrival.
GAMA did not receive a response to the proposed safety recommendation.
Lessons learned
Navigational alarms must complement, not replace, an effective lookout. Two persons in the wheelhouse during coastal and harbour approaches provide monitoring and recovery capacity. Watch organisation should account for fatigue accumulated during fishing operations. Engine-room and other safety-critical openings should remain closed to limit flooding after grounding or hull damage.