The death of three SNSM rescuers in 2019 off Sables-d'Olonne, after their boat capsized to rescue a trawler in a storm, is the result of several factors including the fragility of the windows of the boat, revealed Monday, September 28 the Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA) Wed.
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“
The canoe was hit by a powerful, high-rise wave.
Under the violence of the impact, two windows on the front of the wheelhouse exploded and seawater surged inside,
”said the BEA Mer in a report.
"
From then on, the situation was no longer controllable
", continues the public body, estimating that "
the invasion of the ship destroyed the capacities of recovery of the ship
" when new waves fell on him.
Four of the seven crew members ended up overboard, while the other three remained trapped inside the overturned dinghy.
Among the four who found themselves in the water, only three managed to reach the coast unharmed.
Of the three left in the canoe, only one will be taken alive.
Alone on board "
while his weapons license required a staff of two people
"
"
The predominant material factor of the accident of the CTT Jack Morisseau is the rupture of two windows before the wheelhouse
", assures the BEA, which further emphasizes that as soon as the boat was flooded with water, "
the conditions of survival on board were seriously compromised by the electrification of the metal parts which structure the wheelhouse space
”.
This electrification "
degraded the crew's ability to act before capsizing,
" the report said.
The BEA therefore recommends that the National Society for Rescue at Sea (SNSM) replace glazing that is not tempered glass with laminated and tempered glazing on board its all-weather boats.
However, it also recommends that the administration "
encourage operators to define the limits for the use of rescue vessels
", in particular when the weather conditions are particularly difficult.
By delegation from the maritime prefect, the Cross Etel had set up the SNSM canoe to help the trawler.
On June 7, 2019, the Jack Morisseau went out in the middle of storm Miguel to assist the Carrera, a 12-meter trawler.
The boss of the fishing boat was alone on board "
while his armament license required a staff of two people
", further notes the BEA.
"
A crew member could have called into question his decision to sail,
" said the organization.