Emily Lewis
15 Nov 2024 · Coroner Henry Charles · Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
The coroner's concerns
1. high workload of piloting a RIB at high speed
“the high workload of piloting a RIB at high speed, particularly in the vicinity of buoys and vessels”
2. loss of situational awareness
“loss of situational awareness”
3. single crew operation
“the improvement in safety of having a second crew member thereby providing an additional lookout and reducing the skipper's workload”
4. limited forward visibility
“forward visibility issues in RIBs complying with existing requite safety standards when passengers are being carried”
5. unsafe seating and handholds
“issues as to safe seating and the need to mitigate the effects of collisions, noting in particular the injuries suffered by [the deceased]”
6. ineffective risk assessments
“the need for risk assessments and safety management systems to be meaningful”