Grounding and sinking of large private motor yacht Isamar

Location: Off Grand écueil d'Olmeto, Corsica.

Accident Investigation Report 9/2014

Investigation report into marine accident including what happened and safety lessons:

(328.86 kb)

Isamar

Summary

On 17 August 2013 the privately owner motor yacht Isamar grounded off Grand écueil d’Olmeto, Corsica. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp three crew were unable to halt the flooding, but were able to abandon the vessel with the eight passengers before Isamar foundered in 55 metres of water.

Safety lessons

  • Isamar’s master relied on an ECS with electronic charts that were set to the wrong scale, unsuitable for the intended voyage and out of date as the primary means of navigation

  • had appropriate, updated charts been available on board, Isamar‘s master could have prepared a passage plan which would have enabled him to ensure that the intended route was suitable for Isamar’s draught

  • the standard marine emergency procedure of isolating damaged areas by closing watertight doors were not applied

  • flooding was not contained by closing the watertight door between the lazarette and the engine room, and pumping capability was not used to best effect

Published: 9 April 2014

Updates to this page

Published 23 January 2015