Flooding and partial sinking of an inflatable migrant boat with the loss of at least 8 lives
Location: Dover Strait, England, UK.
Accident Investigation Report 9/2024
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened and subsequent actions taken:
Summary
At 0213 on 14 December 2022, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Dover (MRCC Dover) was informed of the presence of an inflatable boat carrying migrants from France to the UK that was potentially in distress. His Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) reacted proactively, tasking assets to locate and assist the inflatable boat when it entered UK waters. At around 0300, the boat suffered structural failure and many of the migrants entered the water. Shortly afterwards, the crew of fishing vessel Arcturus encountered the inflatable boat and raised the alarm while starting to recover migrants from the water. A full-scale coastguard response was already underway in the UK and France by this stage. Thirty-nine migrants were successfully rescued by fishing vessels and search and rescue (SAR) assets, but at least eight migrants lost their lives. Four of the victims were recovered to the UK and the others were lost at sea.
Safety Issues
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the inflatable boat was wholly unsuitable and ill-equipped for the crossing attempt and the occupants’ only method of raising the alarm was via mobile phone
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the use of email was not an internationally recognised method of making a distress call. Nonetheless if brought to HMCG’s attention that another migrant boat was crossing the Dover Strait, which enabled proactive tasking of SAR assets
Recommendations
In view of the recommendations made, and subsequently implemented by the MCA and Border Force, in MAIB report 7/2023 and the actions already taken, no further recommendations have been made.