Medevac from survey vessel in English Channel

The incident happened about two miles south of Dodman Point when an in-test compressed air storage cylinder ruptured on the deck of the 12m catamaran Xplorer (ex-MTS Xplorer), causing serious leg and hand injuries to one crew member and minor rib injuries to another. The fisheries protection vessel St Piran was first on the scene and its crew provided initial first aid, followed by the Falmouth RNLI Severn-class lifeboat which was launched within 15 minutes of the incident and helped to swiftly medevac the casualties by the Newquay-based rescue helicopter to hospital in Plymouth. The Fowey lifeboat also attended and took the damaged vessel in tow back to Falmouth while the third crew member was returned to port on the Falmouth lifeboat. The quick response by rescuers and the efforts of surgeons at Derriford Hospital meant the main casualty’s injuries were treated quickly and he was released in less than a week. His co-worker was treated for minor injuries and returned home that day.

The Xplorer, built in 2002 by Gemini Workboats, Colchester, had recently been bought by FD Marine Ltd (a sister company of Falmouth Divers Ltd) from MTS, along with the pilot/crew transfer launch MTS Agility and the landing craft Grey Bear. FD Marine was sold to MTS five years ago and the Falmouth-based marine contractor has recently re-acquired its former company and vessels.

Initially described on the AIS and in national press reports as a ‘dredger’ and identified by signage as a Survey vessel, the Xplorer is a multi-purpose catamaran with the Basic Functions of Marine Survey, Dive Support and Crew Transfer. It is coded MCA Cat 2 – 60 miles from safe haven and licensed for two crew plus 10 Passengers. It is powered by twin Cummins 500hp engines and the deck equipment includes Heila deck crane with winch, hydraulic capstan – 1 tonne, dive ladder, survey equipment mounting brackets, spacious clear working deck (4000kg deck cargo and equipment), stern door access, moon pool, Reson sonar head mounting brackets.

The boat has been a familiar sight in the South West area where, amongst other duties, it has regularly been used to take parties of students from several universities on research projects. It was used extensively for general survey duties at the Cornwall Wave Hub project on the north side of the county (see MJ Sept 2016). At the time of the incident it was heading east on a wreck survey mission.

There was repairable damage to the vessel’s superstructure caused by the cylinder rupture and the subsequent release of an internal fire extinguisher. The HSE and the company are investigating the cause of the currently unexplained incident.

By Graeme Ewens