ILHAS DO MAR e WATER LILY - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: ILHAS DO MAR WATER LILY
GAMA reference: 2016-045
Data da ocorrência acidental: 29-02-2016
Circulated on: 25-07-2022
Published on: 22-08-2022
Casualty Event: Collision - With other ship
Summary
On 29 February 2016, the bulk carrier WATER LILY and the fishing vessel ILHAS DO MAR collided while underway, approximately 180 nautical miles off Madeira. ILHAS DO MAR sustained a hull breach, suffered flooding, and was eventually abandoned before sinking. VHF communications between the two vessels failed to clearly convey the seriousness of the situation, and no DSC alert, EPIRB activation or Mayday call was made. The ten crew members were subsequently rescued from the liferaft by helicopter.
Safety recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued in the final report.
Lessons learned
Emergency communication is only effective when the situation, its severity and the assistance required are clearly understood; DSC, EPIRB and Mayday communications should be used without delay; redundancy in certified communications personnel should be ensured; training should enable communication with foreign vessels using standard maritime English; when a communication is not understood, assistance from a coast station should be requested and the situation visually confirmed before the vessel proceeds on its voyage.