Carbon monoxide poisoning on motor cruiser Diversion with loss of 2 lives
Location: Museum Gardens quay, River Ouse, York, England.
Accident Investigation Report 4/2021
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened and actions taken:
Summary
At about 2000 on 4 December 2019, the bodies of two men were discovered in the cabin of the privately owned motor cruiser Diversion, which was moored to a quay in the centre of York, England. The bodies were those of the boat owner and his friend, who had spent the previous evening in the city centre socialising with former work colleagues and were spending the night on board.
Both men had died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The carbon monoxide had leaked into the cabin from the boat’s diesel-fuelled cabin heater exhaust.
Safety Issues
-
the cabin heater’s exhaust silencer was not designed for marine use: its connection to the exhaust pipe system was not gas tight, the installation had not been checked by a professional heater installer, and it had not been serviced
-
the cabin ventilation system did not meet the requirements of the Boat Safety Scheme and this might have increased the rate at which the carbon monoxide accumulated in the boat’s cabin space
-
the owner and his friend were not alerted to the danger because a carbon monoxide alarm had not been fitted
Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
Recommendations
As a result of the investigation’s initial findings the MAIB issued a safety bulletin, which has since been referenced in Boat Safety Scheme publications and has been featured in the 2020 Carbon Monoxide awareness week. As a result of these actions, no recommendations have been made in the report.
Related publications
A safety bulletin highlighting the importance of installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on boats with enclosed accommodation spaces was also produced for this investigation.