The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) today published its report into the flooding and floundering of the fishing vessel Annandale (BF 89) 16 miles North North East of the Shetland Islands on 23 March 2000.

SYNOPSIS
The accident was reported to the MAIB on 23 March 2000, and an investigation began that day.

The 20-year-old Banff-registered steel fishing vessel Annandale was fishing 16 miles NNE of the Shetland Islands when she suffered flooding to the engine room. The flooding was not discovered until later as her crew had been busy on deck repairing the fishing gear.

When the flooding was discovered Annandale's mate called another fishing vessel in the area, Endeavour, for assistance. The coastguard intercepted this VHF radio call and offered help.

However, Annandale's skipper refused this assistance because water was coming aboard so quickly that their help would be too late to prevent her from sinking. With the flooding in the engine room at an advanced stage, Annandale set course for Endeavour's position.

Nearly two hours after the call, her crew were transferred by liferaft from one vessel to the other, and Annandale was taken in tow.

Shortly after the tow began, Annandale sank.

The most probable cause of the accident was a failure in the sea water inlet piping. Contributory causes were:

* weakness in the piping because of advanced corrosion,
* failure of the engine room bilge alarm,
* the lack of a watertight bulkhead,
* the skipper's decision to refuse assistance from the coastguard.

The investigation has resulted in recommendations to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to consider making it a condition of the four-yearly safety survey that an inspection report on engine room pipework, carried out by a competent person, is produced at the time of the survey as part of the certification.

CONCLUSIONS

FINDINGS
1. Annandale might not have foundered had the crew taken a different course of action after flooding was discovered.
2. The wheelhouse was left unattended for three hours.
3. The cause of flooding was probably not a result of back-flooding through the bilge system.
4. The cause of flooding was probably not a result of a breach in the hull plating.
5. Annandale had not been involved in a collision, grounding or any other form of contact.
6. The skipper was unable to close the seacocks fully.
7. It is more than likely that Annandale's sea water piping was subject to a degree of advanced corrosion.
8. A risk assessment had been carried out and the crew was aware of it.
9. The high-level bilge alarm in the engine room failed to operate.
10. The failure of the bilge alarm was probably due to the lack of inspection and maintenance.
11. A fully operational bilge alarm would have provided early detection of flooding.
12. No attempt was made to use the auxiliary engine-driven pump or the hand bilge pump.
13. Annandale did not comply with Rule 2 of The Fishing Vessel (Safety Provision) Rules 1975. Her aft bulkhead in the engine room was not watertight. This was probably due to inadequate maintenance and inspection of its watertight integrity.
14. A watertight bulkhead between the engine room and cabin might well have prevented Annandale from foundering.
15. The skipper's refusal of help from the coastguard on the first two occasions was unjustified; however, the reason for his refusal on the third occasion can be understood.
16. With the use of salvage pumps from the coastguard, Annandale might well have been prevented from foundering.
17. One of the liferafts failed to inflate. The reason for this is unknown.
18. The Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) failed to inflate. The reason for this is also unknown.

CAUSES
Annandale's loss was caused by flooding to the engine room, probably due to failure of the sea water piping.

CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES
1. Weakness in the sea water piping because of advanced corrosion.
2. The failure of the engine room bilge alarm.
3. The lack of a watertight bulkhead between the engine room and cabin.
4. The skipper's decision to refuse assistance from the coastguard.

RECOMMENDATION
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is recommended to:
Consider making it a condition of the four-yearly safety survey for fishing vessels that a competent person carries out an inspection report on engine room pipework at the time of the survey, before a Safety Certificate is granted.