Report on the investigation into the loss of the fishing vessel Z85 MORGENSTER with the loss of three lives and a fourth missing crew member, ten miles from Dungeness, on 28 January 2015 Independent Unit Posthoflei 5 2600 Berchem July 2015 Extract from the European Directive 2009/18/EC (26) Since the aim of the technical safety investigation is the prevention of marine casualties and incidents, the conclusions and the safety recommendations should under no circumstances determine liability or apportion blame. Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 2 Contents: List of Illustrations 5 List of abbreviations 6 Part 1 - Factual Information 7 1. The Belgian fishing fleet 7 2. Characteristics of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” 8 3. Ownership history 9 4. Crew requirements 11 5. Stability data 12 6. Equipment 13 Part 2 - What happened 14 1 Start of sea journey 14 2 Crew 15 3 Condition of the vessel upon departure 15 4 Course of the journey 16 5 Search and rescue 17 6 Locating the wreck 19 Part 3 - Investigation findings 20 1 First dive mission 20 2 Findings from the first mission 21 3 Investigation potential collision 32 4 Conclusion investigation potential collision 37 5 Investigate possible collision with floating objects 38 6 Further investigation hull damage 39 7 Second mission to the wreck 40 8 SONAR observation second mission 41 9 Dive operations from the BNS "M916 BELLIS" 42 10 Conclusion after the second mission 43 Part 4 – Stability study 44 1 Stability with symmetrical use of beams 44 Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 3 2 Stability at the moment of capsizing 49 Part 5 – Causes of the accident 50 1 Reasons for capsizing 50 2 Contributing factors 51 Part 6 – Conclusions 52 1 Safety issues 52 Part 7 – Actions Taken 54 Part 8 – Recommendations 54 Appendices 55 General plan of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” 56 Meteorological observation charts of 28 January 2015 57 Service Regulation 15 Stability of fishing vessels 59 Stability calculation at loading condition at the time of the accident according to the stability booklet 74 Simulation of the stability calculation at the time of the accident with one peaked-up spanker boom, one spanker boom outboard and fishing gear hoisted 76 Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 4 List of Illustrations Figure 1 - MS "Z85 MORGENSTER" ......................................................................................................... 8 Figure 2 - MS "Z85 MORGENSTER" before the reconversion in 2008 ................................................... 10 Figure 3 – Fishing areas according to the map of the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate ............................. 14 Figure 4 – Extract from the crew list file ................................................................................................... 15 Figure 5 – The inflatable life raft from the “Z85 MORGENSTER” ............................................................ 18 Figure 6 – Identification of the wreck of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” .................................................. 19 Figure 7 – Hydrografic vessel ZRMS “LUYMES” of the Dutch Royal Navy ............................................. 20 Figure 8 – Dive team from the ZRMS “LUYMES” near the buoy attached to the wreck .......................... 22 Figure 9 - EPIRB on the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” still in position in cradle .......................................... 23 Figure 10 – Portside winch levers of the fishing gear in off position ........................................................ 24 Figure 11 – Rudder angle indicator on the bridge .................................................................................... 25 Figure 12 – Rudder angle indicator (20° portside) ................................................................................... 26 Figure 13 – Part of name and home port on stern ................................................................................... 27 Figure 14 – Rudder on an estimated 10° to 15° position on portside ...................................................... 28 Figure 15 – Illustration of a REMUS unmanned submarine ..................................................................... 29 Figure 16 – Portside door frame with clothing trapped by the door ......................................................... 30 Figure 17 – Damage to the balustrade ..................................................................................................... 30 Figure 18 - Multibeam SONAR image of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” ................................................. 31 Figure 19 - Side scan SONAR image of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” ................................................. 32 Figure 20 - MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” and MS “MARSELISBORG” in very close proximity according to the data from the ECDIS of the MS “MARSELISBORG” ......................................................................... 33 Figure 21 - MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” disappears from the radar and AIS ............................................. 34 Figure 22 – Radar image from MCA showing the smallest distance between the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” and MS “MARSELISBORG” ......................................................................................... 35 Figure 23 – Bow of the MS “MARSELISBORG” on arrival in Algeciras ................................................... 36 Figure 24 – Bow of the MS “MARSELISBORG” on arrival in Algeciras ................................................... 36 Figure 25 - Forecastle of the MS “MARSELISBORG” on arrival in Algeciras .......................................... 37 Figure 26 – Stowage plan of the MS “MARSELISBORG” on departure from the port of Antwerp .......... 38 Figure 27 - M916 BELLIS of the Belgian Royal Navy .............................................................................. 40 Figure 28 – part of the sea bed investigated using SONAR .................................................................... 41 Figure 29 – Physical investigation of the lifting cables on the beams ...................................................... 42 Figure 30 – Damage on the portside of the bow ...................................................................................... 43 Figure 31 – Fishing gear of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” found in Ostend after the incident ............... 46 Figure 32 – Beam measurements according to the calculations in the stability booklet .......................... 47 Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 5 List of abbreviations AIS: Automatic Identification System BNS: Belgian Navy Ship DSC: Digital Selective Call E: Eastern longitude EPIRB: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon HF: High Frequency kW: kilowatt MS: motor ship MF: Medium Frequency MRCC: Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre N: Northern latitude Navtex: NAVigational Warnings by TEleX Rt: Register ton = 100 cubic feet or 2,83 cubic meter SONAR: sound navigation and ranging UTC: Universal Coordinated Time VHF: Very High Frequency W: Western longitude ZRMS: His Majesty’s Motor Ship (Dutch Royal Navy) Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 6 Part 1 - Factual Information 1. The Belgian fishing fleet On 9 October 2014 the Belgian commercial fishing fleet consisted of 76 units with an accumulated tonnage of around 14,300 register tons. Of the 76 units 64 were equipped for bottom trawling. Some vessels equipped for bottom trawling were also equipped for twin rig trawling, including the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER”. The remaining vessels, not equipped for bottom trawling, fished using lines or other equipment. Some units were stern trawlers. The fishing area of the majority of the fleet is the southern and northern parts of the North sea. Some cutters operate in the Bristol Channel. Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 7 2. Characteristics of the MS “Z85 MORGENSTER” Figure 1 - MS "Z85 MORGENSTER" Vessel type Motor cutter for bottom trawling and twin rig fishing Registration number 01 001186 1996 Certificate of seaworthiness issued at Ostend on 18 July 2014 and valid until 4 June 2015 Home port Zeebrugge Call sign OPDG Gross tonnage 82 Rt Net tonnage 24 Rt Length 23,82 meter overall 21,31 meter between perpendiculars Construction Hull: Centraal Staal Osloweg 110 9723 BX Groningen, Nederland Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 8 Fitting-out: SV Scap Hendrik Baelskaai 27 B-8400 Ostend Belgium Reconversion: Gardec SDS NV Boomkorstraat 7-8 B-8380 Zeebrugge Engine Since 2000 Mitsubishi- 221 kW/300 hp Former engines 1987 Mitsubishi - 221 kW/300 hp 1992 Mitsubishi - 221 kW/300 hp Owner at the time of the accident MORGENSTER NV Nukkerstraat 85 8450 Bredene Belgium 3. Ownership history Former owners 1987 BVBA Flamingo (Luickx - Eyland) Zeebrugge Belgium 1998 BVBA MORGENSTER (A.Decordier) Zeebrugge Belgium Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 9 2004 B.V.B.A. Rederij Rudo (Jelle Kramer) Residentie Duin Afrikalaan 13 B-8400 Ostend Belgium Since 2008 MORGENSTER N.V. (Jelle Kramer) Residentie Duin Afrikalaan 13 8400 Ostend Belgium The shipping company MORGENSTER NV from Ostend awarded Gardec NV from Zeebrugge the task of reconverting the MS "Z85 MORGENSTER". The MS "Z85 MORGENSTER" was lengthened while the stem was shortened. The vessel was also equipped for twin rig fishing. Figure 2 - MS "Z85 MORGENSTER" before the reconversion in 2008 Investigation report Z85 MORGENSTER - 10 4. Crew requirements Document on minimum requirements for crew on fishing vessels Issued in Ostend on 18 July 2014 and valid until 4 June 2015 For the former fishing area 1: Skipper: Certificate of competency skipper limited waters Helmsman: Certificate of competency helmsman One crew