Official report released on 2023 Ilfracombe Harbour tour boat accident

A sightseer was left paralysed after she was dislodged from her seat by the impact of waves on a tour boat as it left Ilfracombe Harbour, a report released today (Thursday, August 21) has confirmed.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) Lundy Explorer had been setting off for a sea safari trip on June 7, 2023.

A high wave caused the RIB to slam into an oncoming wave and a woman passenger sitting in a jockey seat at the front, where the highest shock loads were experienced, was dislodged from her seat and fractured her spine, which left her with permanent paralysis.

The MAIB has made a number of safety recommendations to Ilfracombe Sea Safari Limited in its report. The company told the Gazette today it had implemented all the measures outlined in the report, plus others.

The report identified key safety issues from the June 7, 2023 accident, which included weather conditions had deteriorated quickly and this resulted in choppy seas, with increased wave heights the Lundy Explorer’s skipper had not expected.

It said the position of the jockey seats at the front of the boat were unsuitable for single occupancy as they exposed passengers to high shock load as the boat slammed into waves.

The report found a pre-departure safety briefing ‘did not include adequate instruction on the use of the seats and the passengers were unaware of the risks’.

It also found current regulations do not reference safety standards for the design, position and use of seats on high-speed RIBs. MAIB has made a number of recommendations to the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) relating to high speed commercial vessels.

It will also include in the forthcoming Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure a requirement to assess and mitigate the risks of seating people in the front third of a rigid inflatable boat or a high-speed boat.

The report said Ilfracombe Sea Safari had been recommended to include operating procedures detailing pre-departure considerations and what actions to take should the conditions change. It said there should be a pre-departure safety brief plus risk assessments ‘that accurately reflect potential hazards’ and use of jockey seats.

A Sea Safari spokesperson told the Gazette today: “The company is under new management since the beginning of 2024 and we have implemented all the safety guidelines outlined in the report and more.

“We work to the highest standards and go above and beyond to ensure that all passengers and crew are safe.”

MAIB has recommended The Royal Yachting Association, British Marine, and the Professional Charter Association pass on the report to their members.

Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, said: “This dreadful accident highlights that even when operating at slow speeds in harbour areas, significant injuries can still occur on rigid inflatable boat (RIB) rides when inappropriate seating arrangements are used.

“The passenger, who suffered life-changing injuries, was seated in the forward part of the vessel, an area well-known to experience the highest shock loads during wave impacts. Despite being in good health and wearing appropriate safety equipment, she was dislodged from her seat and sustained a spinal injury that has resulted in permanent paralysis. 

“The risk to passengers was significantly increased by the design and use of the front ‘jockey’ seats, combined with insufficient safety briefings and a lack of formalised operational procedures.

“Sadly, these are not isolated issues. Our previous investigations have shown a pattern of similar injuries occurring, which suggests that safety on commercial RIB operations is a persistent issue that the industry can do more to address. 

“I urge all operators to take action. Review seating arrangements, give thorough safety briefings before every voyage and conduct risk assessments. The guidance is plentiful, make use of it today.”