Calliope’s safety management system (SMS) did not provide the crew with adequate guidance regarding passage planning, training and familiarisation. Individual crew familiarisation records and risk assessment forms were not retained on board the yacht and there was no system of auditing or checking to ensure the adequacy of the SMS or the effectiveness of its implementation.
Together, the actions taken and proposed by Marine Construction Management and the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry should adequately address this safety issue.
The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry has advised the ATSB that the requirements for a safety management system (SMS) for large commercial yachts of under 500GT are given in Annex 2 of the Large Commercial Yacht Code. Annex 2 only requires ‘simple procedures’ for on board operations and does not include requirements for auditing or checking of the effectiveness of the system beyond the required 3 year owner's review.
The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry will raise the effectiveness of Annex 2 in meeting the fundamental requirements of a documented SMS with the United Kingdom as the authors, publishers and custodians of the Large Commercial Yacht Code.
The ATSB considers that the actions proposed by the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry should assist in addressing this safety issue in the broader pleasure yacht industry.
Marine Construction Management has advised that, at the time of the accident, the company had a system in place whereby it verified that the appropriate safety meetings, safety drills, emergency procedures, risk assessments, crew familiarizations and other aspects of the safety management system (SMS) were being followed, recorded and submitted. Prior to this accident, a review of this verification process was conducted and the results of the review were forwarded to Calliope’s master on 25 January 2013.
Since the accident, Calliope’s master has been submitting passage plans to Marine Construction Management. The company will also issue an addendum to the vessel's SMS that will require passage plans for every voyage regardless of duration. A written procedure for transiting bridge openings will be written and implemented as part of the ongoing development of the SMS. The company has also engaged the services of a specialist consultant to conduct on board audits of the implementation and continuing use and development of the SMS.
The ATSB considers that the actions taken and proposed by Marine Construction Management should address this safety issue with respect to Calliope.
