Grounding and sinking of side trawler Arosa with loss of 12 lives

Location: Doonguddle rock, near Galway Bay, Republic of Ireland.

From:
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Published
23 January 2015
Vessel type:
Fishing vessel
Report type:
Investigation report
Date of occurrence:
3 October 2000

Accident Investigation Report 41/2001

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and subsequent recommendations:

arosa-english.pdf (536.60 kb)

Spanish version

MAIBReport_41-2001-SpanishVrs (606.03 kb)

Summary

At about 0400 (UTC) on 3 October 2000, the UK-registered but Spanish owned and operated fishing vessel Arosa ran aground on Doonguddle rock which is off the west coast of Ireland and about 10 miles north of the north entrance to Galway Bay. The vessel was lost, and all but one of the 13 crew members lost their lives.

Safety Issues

  • there was neither a lookout nor a watch alarm to ensure that the patrón de costa did not fall asleep
  • although the liferafts were launched, the crew members were reluctant to board them because of the vessel’s list and their fear of the consequences

Recommendations

No recommendations were made as a result of this accident investigation.

This report was published in December 2001.

Published 23 January 2015