Quilty drownings’ report published

IN their report into the tragic drownings of Quilty fisherman Michael Galvin and Noel Dickinson last August, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) found it is probable that the Lady Eileen encountered wind or wave action or a combination of both.

“This caused the vessel to be swamped and lose reserve of buoyancy beyond which it was able to recover for its loaded condition, resulting in its sinking. If the hatch abaft of the engine casing, that had been removed for repairs to the sterngear, had not been resecured and sealed properly, this could have permitted water to enter the hull of the boat over its deck in the heavily laden condition, contributing to the catastrophic loss of buoyancy,” the report read.

The Lady Eileen departed Quilty Pier at approximately 7am on August 13, on a fishing trip with two crew members onboard. The vessel failed to return at its expected time of between 5pm and 7pm that evening.

“Initially, the alarm was raised locally and when no sighting of the vessel could be seen, the Coast Guard was alerted at 20.56hrs. Rescue Helicopter R115, Doolin Coast Guard Unit, Kilkee Coast Guard Unit, Kilkee Rescue Unit and Aran Island Lifeboat were tasked for the search operation,” the report stated.

“At 22.45hrs, Doolin Coast Guard located debris 0.25 miles west of Spanish Point. At 23.08hrs, Doolin Coast Guard spotted fish boxes and other debris and detected a strong smell of diesel between Spanish Point and Cream Point. The search was called off for the night at 01.20hrs on August 14 and resumed at first light on August 14. At 05.46hrs on August 14, a fishing vessel came across four net marker buoys believed to be from the Lady Eileen.

“Shortly before 12.00hrs, members of the Burren Rescue team dived onto the Lady Eileen and located two bodies in the vicinity of the wheelhouse of the vessel. The bodies were brought to the surface and removed from the scene by members of the Kilkee Rescue Unit,” the report noted.

In their safety recommendations, the board notes there have been a number of incidents caused by overloading boats, thus affecting buoyancy and stability.

“It is recommended that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport review the requirements of the Code of Practice for fishing vessels under 15m, with a view to establishing revised stability criteria, with particular reference to freeboard and freeing ports in small decked vessels. It is recommended that the minister introduce legislation to require fishing vessels to have a fixed loadline on both sides, giving owners an indication of the point of which the vessel can be safely loaded to and hence reduce the possibilities of overloading,” the report added.