LETÍCIA CLARA - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: LETÍCIA CLARA
GAMA reference: 2022-552
Data da ocorrência acidental: 16-12-2022
Circulated on: 20-03-2023
Published on: 26-04-2023
Casualty Event: Foundering
Summary
On 16 December 2022, LETÍCIA CLARA was returning to Nazaré with four persons on board when two waves struck the vessel in following seas. The first caused massive flooding and the second capsized the partially submerged vessel. The Master escaped and remained adrift for about nine hours before reaching the shore. The other three persons remain missing. No automatic distress alert was transmitted and the vessel’s exact position was unknown.
Safety recommendations
R01-2022/552, to DGRM: Assess requiring fishing vessels with a length between perpendiculars of less than 12 m to have the same distress-alerting capability as vessels of 12 m or more, as provided for in paragraph (c) of Regulation 2, Chapter 8, of Decree-Law No. 111/2008 of 30 June. GAMA did not receive a response.
SR02-2022/552, to DGRM: Assess whether the exemption from fitting the Blue Box on fishing vessels undertaking voyages of less than 24 hours should remain in the applicable implementing order. GAMA did not receive a response.
Lessons learned
Small fishing vessels require automatic distress alerting and reliable position information because rapid capsizing may prevent a manual distress call. Following seas can cause sudden acceleration and loss of directional control, particularly after flooding has reduced stability. Liferaft release arrangements must ensure that the survival craft becomes available if the vessel sinks.