Boating & Surface Incidents
Boating & Surface Incidents
October 2005 06/297
Clyde Coastguard were alerted by a 999 call to four divers being swept offshore following a shore dive, Tobermory & Oban lifeboat, RAF rescue helicopter R-177 and Lochalain Coastguard were tasked to search for the missing divers, three made shore unaided the remaining one was picked up by the lifeboat, no medical assistance was required. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
October 2005 06/408
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. Craft escorted in. (RNLI report).
October 2005 06/298
Humber Coastguard received a call from dive support vessel reporting having a missing diver, Tynemouth and Sunderland lifeboats were launched together with South Shields volunteer life brigade and RAF rescue helicopter R-131, the diver subsequently surfaced safe and well. The dive plan gave a loose surface time of 25 to 30 min, the diver was reported overdue after 40min, the diver surfacing 5 min later. 15 to 20 min outside plan! (Coastguard report).
October 2005 06/299
Clyde Coastguard received a call reporting a diving vessel having broken down with two divers stranded on an island, Clyde Coastguard instigated broadcast action on behalf of the stricken vessel, tasking Tighnabruaich inshore lifeboat, Inverary & Kames Coastguard teams. All divers were recovered. (Coastguard report).
October 2005 06/409
Lifeboat assisted in the search for missing diver(s). Others coped. (RNLI report).
Analysis of boating & surface incidents
October 2005 06/301
Portland Coastguard received a call from a dive vessel with 12 divers aboard reporting having engine problems, Weymouth lifeboat was launched assisting the vessel back to shore. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
October 2005 06/302
Dive RHIB contacted Brixham Coastguard reporting having engine failure with divers in the water, other dive vessels attended the scene recovering the divers and towing the stricken vessel back to shore, the vessel managed to restart its engine and return under own power to shore where they were met by Plymouth Coastguard. (Coastguard report).
October 2005 06/304
Clyde Coastguard tasked Arran Coastguard and RNLI lifeboat from Arran to assist a diver in difficulties, the diver made shore after 3 hours in the water and was taken to hospital. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
October 2005 06/306
A member of the public reported a diver in possible difficulties, Torbay lifeboat launched, on arrival one diver was located, a minute later the other was located, the divers became separated 35 min into a 45min dive. No medical treatment required divers returned to shore. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
October 2005 06/413
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. Others coped. (RNLI report).
October 2005 06/307
Dive RHIB with 7 pob was towed into port by another vessel. (Coastguard report).
November 2005 06/310
Dive RHIB reported to Milford Haven Coastguard having broken down with 5 pob, Anglesey lifeboat was launched and towed the vessel safely to shore. (Coastguard report).
November 2005 06/451
A dive boat was returning from a dive site in rough sea conditions. Dusk was approaching and there was heavy rain. One diver stood at the back of the boat. Without warning he was thrown into the sea and the boat continued without him. He saw two buoys nearby and swam to them. He tied the buoys together, manually inflated his drysuit, then inflated an SMB that he had with him. He had an EPIRB but decided to wait a while before activating it. His absence from the boat was noticed and the boat back tracked using its GPS to search for him. It was now dark and the boat used a searchlight. Reflective strips on the diver's arms were spotted in the light beam and he was safely recovered. He later discovered that the EPIRB had been damaged during his fall into the sea.
December 2005 06/314
Stornoway Coastguard received a call from a vessel reporting seeing a red flare and smoke, broadcast action was undertaken, Mallaig lifeboat was launched recovering a dive vessel having suffered engine failure, the stricken vessel was towed to shore by the lifeboat. (Coastguard report).
December 2005 06/315
Stornoway Coastguard were alerted by dive support vessel of a missing diver, the diver had gone over the side to recover fishing gear, the diver surfaced safe and well prior to search units arriving on scene. (Coastguard report).
January 2006 06/063
Two RHIBs were returning from a dive site in rough conditions. During the trip one of the outboard engine mountings broke. The cox stopped the boat and signalled for assistance from the other boat. They decided to tighten the remaining bolt and to continue. Shortly afterward in rough waves the engine swung up clear of the water, twisted and fell back. It was now facing in another direction and this caused the boat to turn very quickly. The cox fell from the boat and the kill switch, although attached to him, did not work. The boat ran over the cox at high speed and his right leg was hit by the propeller. His midriff area was then dragged into the propeller, with his drysuit tangled in it. The engine stalled. The other person in the boat tried to lift the engine but could not because the cox was attached to it, underwater. The cox struggled to get to the stern of the boat to breathe. His suit became untangled and he was able to escape and get back in the boat. His only injury was some bruising. His drysuit and undersuit were shredded in the stomach area.
February 2006 06/318
Stornoway Coastguard received a call on channel 16 reporting engine failure from a diving vessel with 5 pob, the vessel was towed to shore by Kyle inshore lifeboat, Kyle Coastguard attended to collect details. (Coastguard report).
March 2006 06/082
Two pairs of divers dived onto a wreck. They entered the water 15 min apart. The first pair finished their dive and ascended the shotline. They were recovered into the boat and the boat was allowed to drift while the cox and another diver prepared for their dive. During this time the second pair ascended the shot and found that the boat was not in sight. They hung onto the shot buoy in worsening sea conditions. One of the pair dumped his weightbelt to gain buoyancy. They attempted to hail passing yachts. Eventually their boat returned and they were safely recovered.
April 2006 06/414
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
April 2006 06/078
A dive vessel with 7 persons on board made a 'Mayday' call on VHF Channel 16, reporting an engine fire whilst diving the wreck of the M2 5 miles NW of Portland Bill. Although the fire was believed to have been extinguished, a nearby vessel GOOSE evacuated the divers and Weymouth RNLI all weather lifeboat launched and towed the TOP GUN safely into Weymouth harbour to be met by Wyke Coastguards and a fire appliance. (Coastguard report).
April 2006 06/450
A speedboat with divers on board capsized throwing the divers into the water. Two other dive boats assisted, recovering the divers from the water. One of the divers' drysuits was unzipped. A lifeboat attended and towed the capsized boat back to the shore. No subsequent ill effects were reported. (Media report).
April 2006 06/105
A diver entered the water from an RHIB to conduct a solo drift dive. 5 min later a pair of divers enter the water with a similar dive plan. They all planned to deploy a delayed SMB to make their ascent. The boat moved in the direction of the expected current, however, the current was actually flowing in the opposite direction. The pair and the single diver surfaced to find the boat missing. The boat was unable to locate the divers and the Coastguard was alerted. A lifeboat and a helicopter were tasked to search. The solo diver swam to a nearby island and climbed to the highest point. She was seen by the boat party and she and the pair were safely recovered into their boat. The Coastguard was informed and the search was called off.
April 2006 06/415
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
May 2006 06/339
Stornoway Coastguard received a call from a dive boat reporting a diver missing, rescue helicopter R-177 Mallaig and Tobermory lifeboats were tasked, recovering the divers who were unharmed. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
May 2006 06/418
Two lifeboats launched to assist dive boat with fouled propeller. (RNLI report).
May 2006 06/269
Two divers conducted a 30 min dive to a maximum depth of 12m. When they surfaced their boat crew did not see them and they were carried away by a current. 50 min after they had dived those in the boat realised that they were overdue; a thunderflash was used and the boat searched for the divers. After a further 15 min the boat party contacted the Coastguard by mobile phone as the boat's radio did not appear to work. The Coastguard tasked two lifeboats and a helicopter to search, and alerted other shipping. The divers were spotted by and recovered into a fishing boat 2 hours after they first entered the water. They were transferred into a lifeboat and then taken by ambulance to hospital. One of the divers was wearing a semi-drysuit and was treated for hypothermia. The other diver was wearing a drysuit. Both were released from hospital later that day.
May 2006 06/341
Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from a diving vessel reporting having broken down with divers still in the water, Weymouth lifeboat was launched and rescue helicopter R-WB, the diver was recovered by another vessel, the parent vessel was escorted to harbour by the lifeboat. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
May 2006 06/112
The Coastguard was alerted that two divers were overdue from a dive. The divers had been missing for over 70 min before the alarm was raised. A search was initiated involving a helicopter, a police launch, two lifeboats and other craft. A yacht reported hearing the divers shouting. The divers were safely recovered from the water 5 miles from their expected exit point.
May 2006 06/270
Two divers conducted a 32 min wreck dive to a maximum depth of 25m. When they returned to the anchor they discovered that the anchor line had parted from the anchor. They deployed a delayed SMB and made their ascent. In the boat the cox had realised partway through the dive that the boat was drifting. He recovered the anchor line and made his way back to the wreck. The wind had taken the boat in one direction and the current had carried the divers in the opposite direction. 7 min after the divers were due to have surfaced the cox made a 'Mayday' call. When the divers surfaced they deployed flags and after a further 30 min one of the pair set off his EPIRB. A search was conducted involving a naval vessel, a lifeboat, a helicopter and a fishing vessel. The divers were safely recovered.
May 2006 06/420
Three lifeboats assisted in the search for missing diver(s). (RNLI report).
May 2006 06/196
A dive boat was stationed close to a wreck with two pairs of divers in the water. The first pair surfaced and the boat approached to recover the divers. As the boat neared the divers the engine cut out and could not be restarted. The divers swam to the boat and the anchor was dropped to prevent the boat from drifting away. The engine was examined but no obvious fault was found. The Coastguard was alerted and passed on a message to the boat's shore party who were able to launch another boat to assist. The second boat arrived and towed the disabled boat back to the harbour. Another dive boat assisted by carrying some of the divers back.
June 2006 06/422
Lifeboat assisted in the search for missing diver(s). (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/423
Two lifeboats launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/425
Two lifeboats launched to search for missing diver(s). Others coped. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/426
Three lifeboats launched to search for missing divers. Two people landed. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/427
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with steering problems. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/428
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/429
Lifeboat launched to search for missing divers. Others coped. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/154
Two divers had surfaced from a dive and were being recovered into an RHIB. The first diver got into the boat and the second diver held on waiting for him to move out of the way. The cox then put the boat into gear and started to drive off. The diver in the water was dragged to the rear of the boat and felt a sharp pain in his legs as the propeller passed by. Others in the boat shouted a warning and the cox stopped the boat. The diver was recovered into the boat. It transpired that the pain that he felt was cramp and that he had not been injured.
June 2006 06/445
An RHIB was returning from a wreck dive in calm conditions. The engine started to make an unusual sound and was stopped. The engine and fuel system were checked and nothing untoward was found. The engine was restarted and again it made the unusual sound. The party was only 1.5 miles from their destination so they decided to continue at low speed. The noise got worse and the engine started shaking. It was stopped again and inspection revealed that con-rods had come through both sides of the engine block. The boat was anchored. Two other dive boats came by and were hailed. One of these boats towed the disabled boat back to the harbour.
June 2006 06/430
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
June 2006 06/161
Two divers completed a dive to a maximum depth of 36m. One of the pair deployed a delayed SMB to make the ascent. There was a current and the divers drifted with it. When the divers were at a depth of about 26m their boat ran over the SMB and it became entangled in the propeller. The diver felt the reel being pulled and, thinking that it may have become tangled in a buoy, abandoned it. The other diver then deployed his SMB and they made a normal ascent including planned stops. They were safely recovered into the boat. The first buoy and reel had been damaged by contact with the propeller and another diver had to enter the water to free it.
July 2006 06/432
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
July 2006 06/433
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
July 2006 06/434
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems and missing diver(s). (RNLI report).
July 2006 06/219
Two divers prepared to enter the water. Their RHIB dropped them close to a shot buoy. One diver had to swim around the back of the boat to get to the buoy. The current carried him away from the buoy. The current and a heavy swell prevented him from getting to the buoy. He stopped trying and looked to signal to the boat but it was not in sight. His buddy had reached the buoy and dived without him. The diver was not found for over 15 min, when those in the boat spotted him, by chance, as they made their way back to the buoy having recovered other divers. He was safely recovered into the boat.
July 2006 06/362
Milford Haven Coastguard were alerted by a member of the public of a diver waving for assistance from an orange dinghy, St Govern's Coastguard rescue helicopter R-169 and Tenby lifeboat were tasked to investigate the report. R-169 located the diver and guided the lifeboat to recover him, the diver was missing and was recovered to the shore, no medical treatment was required. (Coastguard report).
July 2006 06/173
A group on a dive boat heard a 'Mayday' call from a nearby fishing vessel that was taking on water. The dive boat moved towards the distressed vessel and stood by to assist. A helicopter then arrived and delivered a pump to the vessel. A lifeboat also arrived and escorted the fishing vessel safely back to shore. (Media report).
July 2006 06/172
The Coastguard was alerted when a diver was lost by his boat. A lifeboat and a helicopter were tasked to search. The diver was found at the surface by the helicopter and recovered by the lifeboat. He was too close to the cliffs for a helicopter lift. (Media report).
Boating & surface incident report source analysis
July 2006 06/437
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
July 2006 06/438
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
July 2006 06/366
Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from a vessel reporting two divers overdue, both wearing black wetsuits. Portland Coastguard tasked R-WB, Weymouth lifeboat and inshore lifeboat with Portland Coastguard team to search the coastline, the divers were located by the rescue helicopter and transferred to a sailing yacht for return to parent vessel. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
August 2006 06/375
Dive vessel reported having broken down with two divers in the water. Coastguard rescue helicopter R-WB was scrambled to assist, they located the missing divers and stood by until they were safely aboard the parent vessel, the vessel then managed to restart one of her engines and make her own way back to port. (Coastguard report).
August 2006 06/203
Two divers entered the water to conduct a drift dive over a wreck site. The skipper of the boat asked them to enter the water negatively buoyant so that they could descend quickly and not miss the site. The last pair entered the water and spent a few seconds at the surface dumping the last of the air from their drysuits. The boat, which was a twin hull design, was close to the divers when it was put in gear and the divers were carried towards the propellers. One of the divers' fins was caught in one of the propellers and it was cut and torn from his foot. The other diver also had a fin cut and damaged but it stayed on his foot. Others on the boat shouted a warning and the propellers were stopped. The divers were recovered into the boat; neither was found to be injured.
August 2006 06/377
Diving vessel with 9 persons aboard suffered engine failure, Weymouth lifeboat were tasked by Portland Coastguard, the lifeboat towed the stricken vessel to shore. It was later discovered the fault to be gearbox failure. (Coastguard & RNLI reports).
August 2006 06/192
Three divers were conducting a shore dive. One of the three indicated to his buddies that he was going to surface but that they should continue their dive. When he surfaced the weather conditions had deteriorated and the tide swept him out to sea. When the pair of divers surfaced they realised that the third diver was missing. The Coastguard was alerted and a search was initiated involving three lifeboats and a helicopter. By the time the search started night had fallen and the weather conditions were poor, with strong winds and rain. The missing diver eventually swam ashore 4 hours later about 3 miles away from his entry point. He sought help at a local house and contacted the emergency services. He was recovered by an ambulance.
August 2006 06/384
Portland Coastguard were alerted to a broken down dive vessel by a mobile telephone call from a shore contact. The RHIB had broken down with divers in the water. Weymouth lifeboats were launched and some of the dive party got back to their parent vessel. The RHIB restarted its engines and recovered its divers, being escorted back to shore by the lifeboat. (Coastguard report).
August 2006 06/440
Lifeboat launched to assist dive boat with engine problems. (RNLI report).
August 2006 06/389
Milford Haven Coastguard were assisted by a member of the public to direct a dive vessel to two drifting divers, the divers were recovered and returned to shore, no medical attention was required. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/441
Lifeboat assisted in the search for missing diver(s). Others coped. (RNLI report).
September 2006 06/396
Falmouth Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel to report he had broken down, on closer examination it was found that someone had removed the vessel's alternator causing the engine to overheat, Falmouth tasked Falmouth lifeboat to tow the stricken vessel to port. The vessel was met by Falmouth Coastguard rescue team and the Police to collect details, the skipper expressed his concern had he had divers in the water this could have proved very dangerous. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/397
Two divers had been waving for assistance following a shore dive, they could not reach the shore, Solent Coastguard were alerted by a member of the public, tasking Newhaven lifeboat and Coastguard team to assist, two local vessels recovered the divers and returned them to shore. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/398
Solent Coastguard were alerted to a diving vessel broken down and taking water with divers in the water. Bembridge lifeboat and rescue helicopter R-IJ were tasked to attend the vessel. The lifeboat recovered the divers and towed the vessel into port. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/400
Portland Coastguard received a call from a broken down dive vessel with divers still in the water, the vessel was assisted by another dive boat recovering the divers. The parent vessel restarted their engines for the journey home. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/404
Solent Coastguard received a call from a diving vessel broken down with divers still in the water, Littlehampton lifeboat was launched and with another private vessel recovered the divers, the lifeboat assisting the vessel to shore. (Coastguard report).
September 2006 06/235
An observer on a boat handling course was manoeuvring an RHIB in a harbour. He was reversing the boat from one pontoon to another. The boat swung towards a moored boat and the cox over-reacted, accelerated and hit the back of the moored boat. The collision punctured the front section of the RHIB and damaged a propeller on an emergency outboard engine mounted on the back of the moored boat. No injuries were sustained.
Page last modified: 21st Dec 2006 - 17:49:34