UK News

Unsecured openings in the deck of a towing vessel led to its eventual flooding and sinking off the coast of Puerto Rico are the findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The towing vessel, Proassist III, suffered flooding in its stern compartments and sank near Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, on December 24, 2020, while transiting northbound off the coast. The three crewmembers on board were unable to pump out the water and eventually abandoned the vessel. No injuries were reported. The vessel was declared a total loss at $968,000. Continue reading “Unsecured openings led to sinking of towing vessel Proassist III determines NTSB report”

This story, alarmingly, is not the first of its kind to reach IIMS. A similar lifejacket clinic at Eastbourne a couple of years ago also revealed a high level of defective flotation devices, some with serious flaws. But is seems the public is not listening and learning.

A recent lifejacket clinic organised by Fowey RNLI found an astonishing 50% were faulty or condemned. The lifejacket clinic invited a team from Ocean Safety Ltd in Plymouth to carry out vital safety checks on a total of 169 lifejackets.

Over 50 per cent needed a critical safety part replacing, Fowey RNLI says, meaning if they had been used in an emergency they may not Continue reading “RNLI Fowey finds over 50% of flotation devices faulty or condemned at a recent lifejacket clinic”