VILA DE CAMINHA Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: VILA DE CAMINHA
GAMA reference: 2025-455
Data da ocorrência acidental: 14-12-2025
Circulated on: 06-07-2026
Published on: 10-08-2026
Casualty Event: Flooding (massive/progressive)
Summary
On 14 December 2025, the Portuguese-flagged coastal fishing vessel VILA DE CAMINHA, with five crew members on board, was returning to the Port of Caminha after completing fishing operations. At 1211, while approximately 0.5 nautical miles west of Ínsua Island, the vessel suffered a main engine failure, resulting in a loss of propulsion and directional control. Without propulsion, the vessel was struck by a wave on the port side, flooded and capsized.
Two crew members abandoned the vessel and swam to Ínsua Island. At 1211 on 14 December 2025, the Caminha Harbour Master’s Office and Local Maritime Police Command were alerted.
The occurrence resulted in two injured crew members, three persons missing at the time this report was circulated, and the total loss of the vessel.
Safety recommendations
2025-455 SR 01
Association for Greater Safety of Seafarers (APMSHM)
Recommendation: Assess the promotion, through organisations representing the fishing sector, of awareness-raising activities aimed at skippers, shipowners and fishers on the importance of maintaining vessels’ watertight integrity throughout all phases of operation, including the return to port, emphasising the need to verify that doors, hatches and other openings through which water may enter are properly closed.
GAMA received a response to the proposed safety recommendation.
2025-455 SR 02
Association for Greater Safety of Seafarers (APMSHM)
Recommendation: Assess the dissemination within the fishing sector of good operational practices for loss-of-propulsion situations, including the allocation of tasks among the persons available on board, monitoring the development of the situation and preparing to respond to a rapid deterioration in the vessel’s safety conditions.
GAMA received a response to the proposed safety recommendation.
Lessons learned
LL1
Regulatory compliance and the normality of operational practices do not, in themselves, ensure safe operating conditions when normal activity is significantly disrupted. The safety of a vessel and its occupants also depends on their capacity to adapt performance, monitor the development of the situation and recover from unexpected conditions.
LL2
The adaptations that enable everyday work to be carried out successfully may, in certain circumstances, reduce the margins available to respond to unexpected situations. When available resources and attention are absorbed by the need to address a priority problem, other safety-related tasks may not be performed, checked or confirmed.