VENEZA - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: VENEZA
GAMA reference: 2017-227
Data da ocorrência acidental: 29-11-2017
Circulated on: 30-04-2018
Published on: 29-05-2018
Casualty Event: Flooding (massive/progressive)
Summary
On 28 November 2017, VENEZA departed Peniche with four persons aboard for a fishing voyage. The vessel’s last AIS position was recorded at 0312 on 29 November while the crew was hauling the net. At 0415, an automatic COSPAS-SARSAT alert was received. Search and rescue resources located an empty liferaft, wreckage and three deceased crew members, while the Master remained missing. The wreck was subsequently located upright on the seabed, heeled to starboard, with a wire around the propeller and shaft, the crane extended to starboard and attached to the codend, and the port trawl door missing. The investigation concluded that water entered over the starboard side while the crew was recovering the codend using the crane. The vessel had insufficient stability and the open internal accesses allowed rapid progressive flooding.
Safety recommendations
SR 2017-227 A: Assess confirming, before issuing a seaworthiness certificate, that no vessel-modification process remains pending. No response was received. SR 2017-227 B: Assess requesting the suspension or withdrawal of an existing seaworthiness certificate when the regularisation of an unapproved modification identifies a condition affecting seaworthiness, and preventing the issue of a new certificate until the process has been completed favourably. No response was received. SR 2017-227 C: Assess the risk of fishing vessels operating, particularly during fishing operations, without maintaining the maximum available watertight integrity. No response was received.
Lessons learned
A vessel should not return to service following structural modifications until the approval process and stability assessment have been completed successfully. Authorities responsible for modifications and seaworthiness certification should exchange safety-critical information before issuing or maintaining certificates. During fishing operations, the maximum available watertight integrity should be maintained, particularly when heavy fishing gear is being recovered or transverse loads may develop.