Flooding and sinking of potter Purbeck Isle with loss of 3 lives

Location: 9 miles south of Portland Bill, England.

Accident Investigation Report 7/2013

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken, and recommendations:

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Summary

On 17 May 2012, the fishing vessel Purbeck Isle foundered 9 miles south of Portland Bill, England resulting in the loss of three crew.

Safety issues

  • the vessel was in poor material condition
  • the vessel was heavily loaded when it sank
  • Purbeck Isle probably sank as a result of rapid flooding following the catastrophic failure of its hull fastenings
  • it is likely that racking stresses acting on the vessel바카라 사이트™s hull caused her hull fastenings to loosen, allowing the seams between one or more of her hull planks to open up

Recommendations

Three recommendations (2013/203, 2013/204 and 2013/205) have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency: the first, urging the immediate implementation of previously issued recommendations to ensure that fishing vessels바카라 사이트™ health and safety legislation applies to all fishermen regardless of their employment status, and that EPIRBS are carried on all fishing vessels under 15m in length; the second, to introduce a more robust inspection regime for such fishing vessels; and the third, to mandate a minimum standard for the liferafts they are required to carry.

This report was published on 2 May 2013.

Updates to this page

Published 23 January 2015