Heavy contact between the high-speed passenger craft Seadogz and a navigation buoy with loss of 1 life

Location: Southampton Water, England.

Accident Investigation Report 10/2023

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations:

MAIB investigation report 10-2023: Seadogz

Annexes to MAIB investigation report 10-2023: Seadogz

MAIB safety findings for the fatal accident involving RIB Seadogz

Summary

On the morning of 22 August 2020, the commercially operated rigid inflatable boat (RIB) Seadogz crashed into a 4.5m high, 5-ton channel marker in Southampton Water at a speed of 38.4 knots. The RIB’s engine stopped abruptly and two of the passengers were catapulted overboard into the water, where their lifejackets inflated.

All eleven passengers and the skipper were treated in hospital, most for substantial impact injuries. One, a 15-year-old passenger, had sustained severe injuries when she was thrown against the handhold directly in front of the bench seat. She died in hospital that afternoon.

Safety Issues

  • The skipper did not see the buoy in sufficient time to take avoiding action. He had lost his positional awareness, most likely due to the high mental workload associated with operating at high-speed close to other marine assets.
  • Seating and handholds afforded little protection to those on board in the event of a rapid deceleration.
  • The RIB’s operating company did not have a safety management system, and their risk assessments were cursory and generic.
  • The regulations did not consider the intended operation or high-speed operations of a small commercial craft. Significant limitations were identified, including:
    • crash protection
    • seat design
    • forward visibility
    • safety management system requirements

Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents

Significant bow damage to the RIB Seadogz

Recommendations

Recommendations (2023/120, 2023/121 and 2023/122) have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to: conduct an anthropometric assessment of the design and operational requirements for the protection of passengers and crew on small commercial high-speed passenger craft; ensure the relevant outputs of the anthropometric assessment are, where appropriate, promulgated into guidance and incorporated as future requirements; and, to expedite the introduction of the Sport & Pleasure Vessel Code.

The British Standards Institution has been recommended (2023/123) to propose to the International Organization for Standardization that ISO 11591 is revised to include a field of vision requirement from the steering position of small craft.

A recommendation (2023/124) has been made to the British Ports Association, UK Harbour Masters’ Association, and the UK Major Ports Group to contribute to the development of guidance on the oversight of small commercial high-speed passenger craft operations in port areas.

Associated British Ports Southampton has been recommended (2023/125 and 2023/126) to ensure that its risk assessments consider the operation of small commercial high-speed craft within the port limits and agree the proper use of these craft with their operators.

The RIB’s manufacturer has been recommended (2023/127) to ensure that the design of the seats, handholds and restraints on its high-speed craft meet the latest relevant industry guidance and that the documentation provided to owners is accurate.

RIB Seadogz interim report, issued May 2021

RIB Celtic Pioneer, 11/2009

Delta RIB, 1/2011

Cardiff Bay RIBs, 19/2011

Vector V40R powerboat, 2/2016

RIBs Osprey/Osprey II, 10/2017

Tiger One, 10/2019

Industry publications:

BS EN ISO 11591

MGN 280 (M) Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats – Alternative Construction Standards

MGN 436 (M+F) Whole-Body Vibration: Guidance on Mitigating Against the Effects of Shocks and Impacts on Small Vessels, and subsequent Amendments 1

MGN 636 (M) Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 Workboat Code, edition 2

Recreational Craft Directive

Passenger Safety on Small Commercial High Speed Craft & Experience Rides – A Voluntary Code of Practice

Port Marine Safety Code

Guide to Good Practice – Marine Operations

Updates to this page

Published 14 December 2023