Stern trawler Opportune sank in 2024 due to “rapid and uncontrollable engine room flood” said the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) in a final report.
The skipper’s decision-making skills and the crew’s training meant all of Opportune’s eight crew were rescued uninjured from the vessel’s liferafts by coastguard helicopters. Unfortunately, the vessel was not recovered.
Alongside the investigation report, the MAIB released a safety flyer to the fishing industry highlighting that on average, over seven fishing vessels are lost every year due to flooding. It also urged fishing vessel owners to have a maintenance plan for their vessel’s seawater pipework to ensure that it is routinely inspected and, if necessary, tested. The saltwater environment is very corrosive, and hot dipped galvanised pipework has a limited life, so replacement should be expected over a 20-year vessel operational life.
What happened
At about 0530 on 24 March 2024, the 23.95m UK registered stern trawler Opportune foundered 36 miles east of Lerwick, Scotland. Opportune’s eight crew were later rescued uninjured from the vessel’s liferafts by coastguard helicopters.
Around 45 minutes before Opportune foundered, the mate had gone to the engine room to investigate a bilge alarm and found water ingress that had reached the level of the vessel’s gearbox. The mate immediately informed the skipper and they went together to the engine room a few minutes later, but decided it was unsafe to enter the space as it was filled with white odourless vapour. Opportune’s crew abandoned ship into the liferafts and the vessel foundered shortly afterwards.
The investigation determined that Opportune foundered due to an uncontrolled engine room flood. The source of the flood could not be definitively established but the most likely cause was failure of the vessel’s seawater pipework, some of which could have been in place since the 26-year-old vessel was built.
There was no opportunity for the flood to be contained or controlled once the engine room became unsafe to enter because Opportune’s sea inlet valves and electric bilge pumps could not be operated from outside the space. Faced with a rapidly sinking vessel, Opportune’s skipper raised the alarm and the crew abandoned ship in good time.
Safety issues
- The vessel foundered due to a rapid and uncontrolled engine room flood.
- The source of the flood could not be established. The most likely cause was a failure of the vessel’s seawater pipework, parts of which were ferrous, over 20 years old and difficult to inspect. Corrosion might have gone unnoticed.
- The crew were unable to control the flood because seawater inlet valves were not easily accessible and electric bilge pumps could not be operated from outside the space.
- Faced with a rapidly sinking vessel, the skipper raised the alarm, and the crew abandoned ship in good time.
Recommendations
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been recommended to update its guidance to its surveyors, fishing vessel owners and crew on the management of seawater pipework in existing vessels.
Opportune’s owner has been recommended to ensure that its crews understand the seawater pipework system and regularly drill their response to a flood.
Download the full report: MAIB 2-2026 – Opportune
Download the safety flyer: MAIB – Are you prepared for a flood?