Capsize and sinking of twin beam trawler Margaretha Maria with loss of 4 lives

Location: Off Lizard Point, England.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 23 January 2015

• Vessel type: Fishing vessel
• Report type: Investigation report
• Date of occurrence: 11 November 1997

Accident Investigation Report 2/1999

Investigation report into marine accident including what happened, safety lessons and recommendations made:

margaretha- maria-pub-1999.pdf (4,775.72 kb)

Report summary

All four crew were lost when the twin beam trawler Margaretha Maria (BM 148) sank at a time unknown between 11 and 17 November 1997. The wreck was found about 55 miles south-west-by-south of Lizard Point, Cornwall, England. It was concluded that the vessel capsized, flooded aft and sank by the stern. Capsize was most probably due to the derricks being topped while large weights of shells and sand were in the nets.

Published: 22 July 1999

Published 23 January 2015