Flooding of charter fishing vessel Random Harvest
Location: 4 miles south-west of Brighton Marina, England.
Accident Investigation Report 28/2000
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and subsequent recommendations:
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Summary
On 3 July 1999 a charter fishing vessel Random Harvest was returning from an angling trip with eight people on board, including a party of six anglers. In rough sea conditions and four miles south-west of Brighton Marina, England the vessel start to flood. The leak could not be stopped but the emergency bilge managed to contain the flooding. The vessel was able to return to Brighton where the water was pumped out.
Safety Issues
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failure of the brass 25mm diameter through-hull fitting to the toilet seawater inlet, which had broken close to its flange at the start of the screw thread
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the fitting had failed from dezincification which had probably been accelerated by stray electric currents
Recommendations
Seven recommendations have been made. One is to the owner concerning improvements to his vessel to reduce the likelihood of a similar failure occurring again. Two are to the MCA, on the European standard for through-hull fittings and seacocks and on the guidance to surveyors. Three are to UK suppliers of similar fittings concerning the descriptions of their products and one is to the British Marine Industries Federation to advise its members of the findings of this investigation.
This report was published on 4 September 2000.