皇冠体育app

Completed PE Summary: Mollie Louise

A short summary of the accident and action taken:

Synopsis

Three crew from the sailing yacht Mollie Louise were thrown overboard from the cockpit when their vessel was knocked down in heavy seas whilst 25nm off the Humber estuary. At the time all were wearing lifejackets, but not safety lines. 皇冠体育app fourth crewman, who was down below, was unable to effectively raise the alarm as the yacht鈥檚 VHF radio failed, probably as he transmitted his 鈥楳ayday鈥� message. 皇冠体育app skipper in the water also managed to make a brief 鈥楳ayday鈥� call on his handheld VHF radio before being swamped. Fortunately the yacht had made contact with the rig support vessel, Putford Provider, which was in close proximity, some 5 minutes before the knock down. 皇冠体育app Putford Provider heard the brief 鈥楳ayday鈥� calls and closed the yacht, eventually establishing contact via loud hailer with the remaining crewman. 皇冠体育app rescue helicopter was able to locate and recover the three casualties from the water 1hr and 25 minutes after the 鈥楳ayday鈥�. Sadly one of the casualties died.

Action taken

皇冠体育app Chief Inspector has written to the skipper and owner of the yacht highlighting the safety issues, concerning:

Making full use of weather forecast information and the need to consider of back-up plans,

• 皇冠体育app benefit of hand steering in heavy seas,

• 皇冠体育app need for lifelines even while in the cockpit, and

• 皇冠体育app benefit of carrying an EPIRB, especially when operating outside of coastguard VHF radio range