Report of Investigation into the Serious Injury of Passenger while Engaging in Diving Activity on Board the PV 36136 on 16 October 2005

The conclusions drawn in this report aim to identify the different factors contributing to the incident. They are not intended to apportion blame or liability towards any particular organization or individual except so far as necessary to achieve the said purpose.

Purpose of Investigation

This incident is investigated, and published in accordance with the IMO Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents promulgated under IMO Assembly Resolution A.849(20). The purpose of this investigation conducted by the Marine Accident Investigation and Shipping Security Policy Branch (MAISSPB) of Marine Department is to determine the circumstances and the causes of the incident with the aim of improving the safety of life at sea and avoiding similar incident in future.

The MAISSPB has no involvement in any prosecution or disciplinary action that may be taken by the Marine Department resulting from this incident.

Table of Contents

Page

1 Summary 2

2 Descriptions of the Vessel 3

3 Sources of evidence 4

4 Outline of events 5

5 Analysis of evidence 6

6 Conclusions 8

7 Recommendations 9

8 Submissions 10

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Dangan Island

Approximate location

of accident

Beijian Island

1. Summary

1.1 At about 1500 on 16 October 2005, a passenger of the locally licensed pleasure vessel PV36136 was seriously injured by the propeller of the vessel while he was engaged in diving activities off Beijan Island which lies to the west of Dangan Island (Figure 1).

1.2 The injured diver was delivered on board a Hong Kong police launch and was later transferred to a helicopter of Government Flying Service. He was brought by the helicopter to the Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital for medical treatment and was certified dead on arriving at the hospital.

1.3 The cause of the accident is due to the engagement of astern engine of PV36136 by the Assistant Master of the vessel. The diver was drawn to and seriously injured by the turning propeller.

Figure 1 – Approximate location of accident

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2. Description of the Vessel 2.1 Pleasure Vessel 36136 (PV36136)

Licence No. : 36136 Class : Pleasure Vessel Type : Inboard Motor Cruiser Length overall : 14.80 m Exteme Breadth : 3.38 m Maximum persons permitted : 22

Propulsion Power : 2 x Cummins (111.9kW x 2)

Figure 2 – Pleasure Vessel “PV36136”

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3.1 The Master of the vessel;

3. Sources of Evidence

3.2 The passengers of the vessel;

3.3 The Hong Kong Police Force; and

3.4 Report of Marine Accident submitted by the Master of the vessel;

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4. Outline of Events

4.1 At about 0830 in the morning of 16 October 2005, the Master of the locally licensed pleasure vessel PV36136 and 15 passengers sailed from Hebe Haven in Sai Kung to Dangan Island to carry out diving activities.

4.2 The vessel arrived at Dangan Island at about 0930 and departed at about 1000 after taking on board 48 pieces of Scuba tanks for diving activities. The Assistant Master who lived on Dangan Island, was hired by the Master and steered the vessel to Wanshan Islands.

4.3 At about 1130 the vessel arrived at Wanshan Islands and carried out diving activities. After finding that the sea water was not suitable for diving activities, all the divers returned to the vessel and sailed to Dangan Island at about 1230.

4.4 At about 1445 the vessel arrived at a location north of Beijing Island. The Master and passengers commenced diving activities there. At about 1500, a diver was found seriously injured after jumping into the water from the stern of the vessel. One of the passengers called the police for assistance.

4.5 The injured diver was taken by PV36136 to a police launch at a position south of Lamma Island at about 1532 and was delivered by a helicopter of Government Flying Services to Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival.

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5. Analysis of Evidence

Obstruction which blocked the

view of Assistant Master

Certification and Experience of the Master and Assistant Master 5.1 Although the Master was holding a Hong Kong Master Grade II Certificate of

Competency for pleasure vessels of 13.7 metres or less in length, he was not qualified to take charge of PV36136 which has a length of 14.8 metres. He claimed that he had about 7 years of experience in navigating pleasure vessels. The Assistant Master was also not qualified to take charge of the vessel as he did not hold a Hong Kong Master Grade I Certificate of Competency for pleasure vessels of 20 metres or less in length. The Master stated that the Assistant Master was holding a Certificate of Competency for Fishing Vessels issued by the People’s Republic of China and he had many years of experience in navigating vessels.

Diving Experience of the Deceased 5.2 A relative of the deceased claimed that the deceased had about 10 years of

experience in diving and held an Instructor Certificate in diving.

Obstruction of View of Stern 5.3 The steering console was situated in a position where the view of the stern of the

vessel was blocked by the obstruction behind the steering console (Figure 3). In the circumstances the Assistant Master could hardly keep a good lookout and get sight of the diving activities going on at the stern of the vessel.

Figure 3 – Photograph showing the obstruction behind the steering console

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Weather Condition 5.4 At the time of accident, the weather condition was hazy with an easterly gentle

breeze.

Communication between Assistant Master and Divers 5.5 It was difficult to establish communication between the Assistant Master and the

divers who jumped into the water at the stern of the vessel due to the long distance between the steering console and the stern. There was no lookout on the vessel to coordinate the safety of divers and the Assistant Master who was controlling the boat’s engines.

Control of PV36136

5.6 After arriving at the location north of Beijian Island, the Master first jumped into the water and was followed by other passengers of the vessel. The control of PV36136 was totally assumed by the Assistant Master. As the Master of PV36136, he should have controlled the vessel by himself instead of handing over the command to the Assistant Master without his presence.

Anchoring and Engine Control of PV36136

5.7 PV36136 was not anchored and it was adrift at the mercy of the wind and current. It is believed that in order to arrest the forward movement of PV 36136 caused by the wind and current, the Assistant Master had engaged the astern engine without knowing that the deceased had jumped into the water at the stern of the vessel. As a result, the deceased was drawn towards and seriously injured by the turning propeller.

Cause of Death 5.8 The cause of death as given in the Autopsy Report was due to propeller injuries to

lower limbs of the deceased. One of the passengers also stated that he saw the left leg of the deceased was cut by and entangled in the port propeller.

Safety Precautions taken by Vessel before Diving 5.9 Prior to carrying out diving activities, the vessel should have been anchored and the

engines should have been switched off in order to prevent any divers from injury by the drifting vessel or the turning propellers of the vessel. To conduct diving activities without first anchoring the vessel could be dangerous as the Master on board may not be aware of the divers’ locations once they dive beneath the sea surface and the Master may need to use the engine to arrest the movement of the vessel under the influence of wind and current.

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6. Conclusions

6.1 The incident occurred at about 1500 on 16 October 2005 at a location north of Beijian Island in PRC waters.

6.2 The Master and Assistant Master of PV36136 were not qualified to take charge of the vessel.

6.3 One of the passengers was seriously injured by the turning propeller of PV 36136

and he was later delivered by a helicopter of Government Flying Service to hospital for medical treatment. The injured person was certified dead on arriving at the hospital.

6.4 The cause of this fatal accident was due to engagement of astern engine by the Assistant Master to stop the movement of the vessel under the influence of wind and current. However, in manoeuvring the engines, he did not realize that the deceased had just jumped into the water at the astern of the vessel. As a result the deceased was drawn towards the propeller and was killed.

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7. Recommendations

7.1 A copy of the report should be sent to the Master of PV36136. He should be advised of the findings of the accident and the importance of anchoring and switching off the engines prior to carrying out any diving activities.

7.2 A Marine Department Notice should be issued to advise the public of taking safety precautions prior to carrying out diving activities.

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8. Submissions 8.1 In the event that the conduct of any person or organization is commented in an

accident investigation report, it is the policy of the Marine Department to send a copy of the relevant part of the draft report to that person or organization for their comment.

8.2 The final draft report was sent to the master of PV36136 requesting him to revert with his comments to this department but no comments have been received from him.

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