The Bahamas Maritime Authority has published a report into the investigation of a Ro-Pax vessel, master Ru, which capsized and sank in The Bahamas in 2024.
On 11 July 2024, the Tanzania (Zanzibar) flagged passenger/ro-ro vessel, Master Ru, was carrying a cargo of bulk aggregate and construction equipment through the territorial seas of The Bahamas. After encountering a heavy squall, water became trapped on deck as the aggregate cargo blocked scuppers and drains, frustrating efforts to use portable pumps to de-water the deck. The vessel became unstable, capsized and sank.
Four of the eight persons onboard were rescued from a liferaft, the remaining four persons are missing, presumed dead.
Why it happened
The vessel was not suitable for the carriage of bulk aggregate and no steps had been made to contain the cargo, protect it from water ingress or mitigate the risk of blocked scuppers. The heavy squall was forecasted but the passage plan was not adapted to reflect this information. Regardless, the options to seek shelter were limited, the vessel having started the voyage with one of its two engines disabled.
The vessel had been operating on one engine for an extended period. There was no evidence of any effective oversight from the vessels flag State and the vessel was not in Class. Master Ru did not have a safety management system in place and crew were not aware of any cargo handling procedures. The vessel did not have visible load lines and the crew were not provided with stability information.
What we can learn
Crew on board vessels that operate without flag State oversight and without being in Class are at an increased risk of danger.
Carriage of cargoes on unsuitable vessels increases the risk during operation of the vessel. Carriage and stowage requirements mandated for specific cargo types should not be adapted without assessing the risk. Port State Control is an essential measure for ensuring the safety of vessels. It is only effective if vessels that are high risk can be targeted for inspections. States should ensure Port State Control Officers have adequate resources and systems to target vessels effectively.
Read the report: BMA Master Ru final report