MAIB Report: Fatal injury to a recreational diver following contact with a motor vessel operating as a recreational dive support vessel, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Summary:

On the morning of 28 September 2023, a recreational diver carrying out a decompression stop died when he was struck by the rotating propeller of the UK registered dive workboat Karin. The diver had been diving from a second dive workboat, Jean Elaine, that was also supporting divers exploring the wreck of the German battleship SMS Markgraf in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

The key safety issues identified were:

• It is the responsibility of skippers to maintain an effective lookout by all means at all times. This is vital when operating near divers in the water. Posting a dedicated lookout in an appropriate location is essential to make sure the person at the helm/skipper receives timely warnings of surfacing divers and allows for effective avoiding action.
• The need for detailed and frequent communication between operators when multiple boats intend to operate in the same area. This coordination is crucial to ensure deconfliction and prevent accidents.
• Following good practice guidance for the correct handling of a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) by divers is essential. As recommended by the British Diving Safety Group, divers should hold a DSMB reel in their hand rather than attach it to their person. This practice ensures that if the DSMB is snagged by a passing craft, the diver can release the line to avoid entanglement and the risk of being pulled to the surface or into contact with the vessel.

Safety recommendations:

A recommendation has been made to the Orkney Islands Council Harbour to conduct a further risk-based review of recreational diving operations for dive vessel operators within its areas of responsibility that includes the effectiveness and enforcement of permit arrangements for recreational dive vessels; the control and monitoring of diving support operations by Orkney vessel traffic services; engagement with local stakeholders; and the development of a local code of practice for recreational diving operations that considers the principles outlined in Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 424 (M) – Safety Responsibilities on board Dive Boats.

 MAIB actions taken:

Following the accident, the MAIB issued Safety Bulletin 2/2024 reminding dive boat operators of the need to maintain a good lookout and reminding divers not to attach deployed marker buoys to their person.

The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Karin’s new owner (see section 4.2) to highlight the safety issues contained in this report, specifically those concerning the vessel’s operational safety on the day of the accident.

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:

“Our findings highlight that all stakeholders, including operators, regulators, and industry bodies, must always prioritise the safety of those who are on the water, be that for work or pleasure.

“The basic principles of good watchkeeping: vigilance, clear communication and adherence to operational procedures for the activities undertaken are well tried and tested. Had they been followed during this event, particularly with two vessels operating in close proximity to submerged divers, this tragic accident could have been avoided.

“As highlighted in both our previous safety bulletin and in the final report, DSMBs play a crucial part in diver safety by enhancing a diver's visibility and indicating their presence to surface craft. However, divers must ensure that they can quickly release the DMSB should it become snagged or the line jammed and not attach it to their person at any time.”