Captain 'unaware' of boat's stability before capsizing

The Angelena sank off Devon's coast in June 2021

A lone fisherman was "fortunate" to avoid injury when their vessel capsized off Exmouth's coast, investigators have said.

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report was published earlier into the Angelena's sinking on 18 June, 2021 as its skipper landed a catch.

The report said the boat had not been required to meet any stability standard and the skipper could not maintain a safe navigational watch while alone.

It recommended that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency require stability training before issuing competency certificates and the boat's captain should complete a stability awareness course.

'Unaware of risks'

The MAIB said the capsizing happened eight nautical miles south-east of Exmouth after the Angelena's net - which was full of sand, mud and fish - swung away from the vessel's side.

It said the captain - who was wearing a life jacket - did not have time to raise the alarm before entering the water, where they were rescued by another boat.

The report said despite the boat having several modifications since it was built in 1988, it had not been required to undergo a stability assessment.

Consequently, it said the skipper did not understand the stability performance of their own vessel, which had set sail from Brixham.

"Although experienced and qualified, the skipper was unaware of the vessel’s accumulated stability risks and the hazards they posed," the MAIB said.

"The skipper was fortunate to enter the water uninjured and be able to inflate and board Angelena’s life raft and raise the alarm."

'Improve understanding'

The MAIB concluded the Maritime and Coastguard Agency needed to improve fishermens' understanding of stability and require risk assessments to define minimum crewing levels.

It added the skipper of the Angelena should attend a stability awareness course.

The MAIB said: "Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to improve fishers’ understanding of stability, require risk assessments that define minimum crewing levels for fishing operations and align definitions across its notices and publications.

"A recommendation has also been made to the skipper of Angelena to attend the Seafish Advanced Stability Awareness course."