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CASE 18<br />
Let It Go And Come Back Later<br />
Narrative<br />
A twin rig prawn trawler capsized in very<br />
rough seas. The vessel had been creeping for a<br />
lost net when the creeper snagged, effectively<br />
anchoring the vessel by the stern. Waves up<br />
to 9m high broke over the aft deck, swamping<br />
the net drum spaces (see figure) and the<br />
vessel started to list to port. Within an hour<br />
floodwater about 1m deep was found in the<br />
cabin space below the aft main deck. Although<br />
the crew used an electric submersible pump<br />
to remove the floodwater, the water level<br />
continued to rise and the port list also<br />
increased beyond 35°.<br />
The skipper repeatedly tried to turn the vessel<br />
into wind, but he was unsuccessful. Eventually,<br />
he recognised the seriousness of the situation<br />
and instructed the crew to don abandon ship<br />
lifejackets and to prepare the liferafts. He also<br />
informed a nearby vessel that the vessel was in<br />
danger. Shortly after the skipper told the crew<br />
to launch the liferafts, the trawler capsized.<br />
Fortunately, he and the crew were able to<br />
scramble from the water into a liferaft. They<br />
were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel about<br />
90 minutes later.<br />
The trawler’s skipper was cold and wet and fell<br />
into the sea as he climbed from the liferaft.<br />
One of the recuing vessel’s crew quickly<br />
donned an immersion suit and lifejacket and<br />
Net drums<br />
40<br />
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2017
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