Tragic Sinking of Argos Georgia: Investigation Reveals Key Failures
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released a detailed report on the tragic sinking of the fishing vessel Argos Georgia, which occurred off the Falkland Islands in July 2024, resulting in the loss of 13 lives. The vessel, which set sail from Port Stanley with 27 crew members, encountered severe flooding approximately 200 miles from shore. As conditions worsened, the crew abandoned ship, leading to a harrowing rescue operation.
Details of the Incident
On July 21, 2024, the Argos Georgia departed from Port Stanley, embarking on a fishing expedition with a full crew of 27. Shortly after, the vessel reported a critical flooding incident. As rescue teams mobilized, the situation onboard rapidly deteriorated, forcing the crew to evacuate into life rafts. Tragically, some crew members were lost at sea during the evacuation, while others succumbed to exposure while awaiting rescue. Ultimately, only 14 of the 27 crew members survived and were brought back to shore.
The MAIB promptly initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Their focus quickly turned to the vessel’s shell door, which is the exterior hatch used for hauling nets. CCTV footage revealed that the shell door had been left in an elevated position before it began to descend slowly, allowing water to flood the compartment. Once opened, the door proved difficult for the crew to close, resulting in significant water ingress. Additionally, hatches leading from the hauling compartment to the vessel’s interior were also open, exacerbating the flooding and causing the Argos Georgia to list dangerously.
Investigation Findings and Recommendations
The MAIB’s investigation revealed critical design flaws in the shell door mechanism. An interim warning was issued to all fishing vessel operators, urging them to inspect their shell doors and assess the risk of similar failures, including the potential for progressive flooding through open hatches. The investigation utilized finite element analysis to evaluate the design of the Argos Georgia’s shell door, uncovering an “unacceptable level of stress” that could lead to failure during operations. If the opening and closing mechanism malfunctioned, there was no safety backstop to prevent the door from descending to an open position.
In response to these findings, the MAIB recommended that the designer revise the shell door design and share the results with other operators who have similar mechanisms installed. A final report detailing the investigation’s conclusions is expected to be released soon, aiming to enhance safety measures across the fishing industry and prevent future tragedies.
