A yacht that was part of a sailing-school charter struck a reef after leaving the Anegada Channel and partially sank on July 6, officials said.
The Lagoon 46 catamaran Nohea Holokai sustained structural damage in the single-vessel incident, but all 14 people aboard were safely evacuated with no injuries, according to a July 9 statement from the Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority in the Premier’s Office.
Jerome Padmore, the authority’s chief marine safety accident investigator, said a comprehensive safety investigation started the day of the incident.
“Following established protocols, the investigation will gather and analyse information to clarify the circumstances surrounding the accident,” according to the Monday statement. “Once the investigation is complete, a safety accident report will be made available to the public at an appropriate time.”
Not assigning blame
The authority added that the investigation’s main goal is to improve maritime safety and prevent future adverse incidents.
“The findings will not assign blame or determine liability,” the statement noted. “The authority will continue its efforts and provide updates as needed.”
All marine accidents must be reported to authority, as required by law under Section 7 of the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations, 2020, according to the statement.
The authority, in turn, is responsible for investigating them.
“Guided by the [regulations] and the International Maritime Organisation Casualty Investigation Code, MSIRA’s primary objective is to enhance maritime safety through fact-based investigations, the identification of safety issues, and the issuance of recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences,” according to the statement.
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