ROISIN ALVOR - Very Serious Maritime casualty
Vessel: ROISIN ALVOR
GAMA reference: 2017-152
Data da ocorrência acidental: 15-08-2017
Circulated on: 10-10-2017
Published on: 02-11-2027
Casualty Event: Contato com pessoa na água
Summary
On 15 August 2017, ROISIN ALVOR departed Portimão Marina with one skipper and 12 passengers for a maritime-tourism excursion to Benagil. During the return voyage, the craft entered the bay off Padre São Vicente beach through a short passage in the rocks. After leaving the passage at approximately 5 knots, the skipper altered course to port to avoid a rock, increased speed to 12 knots and then altered course to starboard to cross the bay. The manoeuvre raised the bow and port side, reducing visibility ahead and to port. The craft struck a swimmer approximately 95 metres from the beach. The skipper returned to the casualty, alerted the authorities and moved the casualty to the beach, where emergency assistance was provided. Death was subsequently declared at Ferragudo lifeboat station.
Safety recommendations
SR 2017-152 A: Assess the risk of assigning a minimum safe manning level of only one crew member to vessels registered for maritime-tourism activities. No response status is recorded in the report. SR 2017-152 B: Assess reminding operators, through a harbour notice or other publication, that Rule 36 of the COLREGs permits the use of signals to attract attention. No response status is recorded in the report. SR 2017-152 C: Assess reminding operators, through a harbour notice or other publication, that access to caves, beaches and passenger landing places should be made perpendicular to the shoreline and at the minimum speed necessary to maintain control. No response status is recorded in the report.
Lessons learned
Maritime-tourism operations close to beaches, caves and swimmers require an effective dedicated lookout, extremely low speed and a track appropriate to the shoreline and local restrictions. Acceleration and course alterations can substantially reduce visibility from small craft, particularly when carrying passengers. An additional crew member provides essential capacity to monitor swimmers, navigational hazards and passenger safety.