Blackpool Ferry Rescue

[Ship Manager]

Gents, I can’t imagine many have been waiting with baited breath for this but if you want to read the report in to the stranding of the Riverdance this link should take you there

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2009/riverdance.cfm

If you don’t have the time to trawl through the whole report a couple of snippits:-

The Master’s decision to sail in the forecast conditions was acceptable.

The MAIB were not allowed access to the wreck and therefore evidence was lost (would the AAIB put up with that?).

The ship had little idea of where ballast water was or the weight of the Cargo they had loaded. (The norm is to do weight and balance checks before you go)

Cargo shift was not a major factor.

No freak waves – only what was to be expected in the area she was operating.

The vessel possibly suffered a loss of stability due to the wave patterns she experienced (in ships transverse stability is critical – we have bags of longitudinal stability).

Bit of a shambles when trying to re float.


I can only hope if you do read the report that this is not indicative of the majority of ship and shipping companies!