The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued the report of its investigation of the grounding of the passenger vessel BALMORAL on Dagger Reef off Gower Peninsula, Wales on 18 October 2004. It was déjà vu all over again. On 20 June 2004, another passenger vessel owned and operated by the same company had grounded on a sightseeing trip when no passage plan was prepared and the vessel was brought too close to shore. On 12 October 2004, the MAIB discussed with the company’s management the provisional lessons learned from the first incident. Regardless, the second grounding occurred six days later in very similar circumstances. The company has now taken positive actions to implement the recommendations.
Source: HK Law
