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AN INVESTIGATION INTO the sinking of a fishing boat in Tramore Bay off Waterford found the vessel was operating outside of its permitted area.
Three brothers – Paul, Kenny, and Shane Bolger, all in their 40s – drowned when the 5.9 metre long MFV Dean Leanne capsized in 2013.
A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board found there was no Mayday call issued by the boat, suggesting the incident took place very quickly.
All were found to have died by drowning induced by hypothermia, meaning they were in the water for more than one hour before emergency services reached the scene.
“The vessel possibly encountered wind or wave action or a combination of both,” the report’s conclusions read.
The boat was also only to fit to carry two crew members according to its Declaration of Compliance, but was carrying three when it was capsized.
Stability
“Three men and [lobster] pots in a small open vessel would have a significant adverse effect on the vessel’s freeboard and stability,” investigators said.
This declaration also said the vessel could only operate in the Waterford Estuary and within five miles of a safe-haven, but the boat was outside of this, where conditions were more severe.
A crucial distress beacon fitted to the Deane Leanne was also found to have malfunctioned. This was previously suspected, prompting a global recall of the devices.
Lifejackets had also not been maintained, with the report finding:
Following testing it was found that the PFDs [personal flotation devices] had not been maintained and were not in a serviceable condition or capable of sustaining buoyancy.
“The chances of survival would have been enhanced if the PFDs were in a good condition.”
The report’s recommendations were both already introduced on 3 March last year – that all vessels under 15m be fitted with an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, and that fishers on these vessels should wear personal locator beacons.
Owners and skippers have been recommended to ensure that their vessels are in a sound, structural, seaworthy condition, prior to the vessel going to sea, and to adhere to their Code of Practice.
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Anyone going out to sea in a boat without proper equipment should be prosecuted. This is happening too often.
@william …… Have a bit of compassion for the relatives of all those who lost their lives at sea. Accidents can happen anywhere and. Your comment is totally unwarranted on an article which relates to the tragic loss of three young men !
@mary, its not exactly un warranted. Althoughthe accident was tragic and im terribly sorry for the family and friends left behind, we should look at how a tragic accident like this can change and prevent this happening in the future. After all, it was on theback of the Titanic the SOLAS conventionhas come about which sets standards for the safety of all persons at sea or on any waterways. For example, during big storms, you see many people going for walks to get videos/photos of the big seas and waves, not only are they putting their own lives at risks but the lives of those who are tasked to save them in the event of them getting swept away! Stricter punishments should be implemted!!
Mary, it’s always easy to wail in anguish. To post RIP and to sympathise with the relatives. But that’s not going to bring back the dead or stop others from drowning. I reject your comments totally. It wasn’t a tragic loss. It wasn’t an accident from what we are being told. They had no life-jackets and no method of raising an alarm. The maritime police need to start enacting the law and even sizing vessels that are unseaworthy or lacking basic life saving equipment. Then less people will drown at sea.
Tragic loss,at least there together in wherever that may be,hopefully tropical fishing in the afterlife drinking margeheritas
These types what a load of bollo#ks, these men were lost because of the EU and irish fisheries doing away with their right to fish within the river suit where they would have been safe and made more money fishing for salmon like all their ancestors for hundreds of years. Unfortunately estuary fishermen don’t have any rights in this European based blue shirt agenda. I grew up in the same village as these great men and they were very good friends, I can remember how in the 80s 80% of the village had employment fishing in small boats for salmon and herring among other species unfortunately in passage there are no more fishing boats operating from the dock and the only thing increasing is unemployment and drug abuse.
These men died because of a very neglected sector in an island nation I might add, our fisheries should be the reserve of the irish people and not barging chip in Brussels sold to the highest bidder.
Few typos suir feckin auto correct
Its a no win situation. These types can’t be policed while at sea and have the experience to know better but will still take risks. Unfortunately this type of incident is all to common. No comfort to the family and while there may be initial shock value their loss and how it happened generally goes unnoticed outside their own families. By
It’s a poor carpenter who blames his tools
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