The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into a March 4th lifeboat drill accident on board new polar research vessel Sir David Attenborough (IMO 9798222). Two crew members suffered minor injuries.
The incident happened while the research vessel was in Loch Bule, Scotland. The MAIB said that the crew members sustained injuries while they were inside a lifeboat that rolled onto its side during a launching drill, and then fell overboard.
The British Antarctic Survey said that “we can confirm that on Thursday March 4th a lifeboat failed to deploy correctly during testing. Two people sustained minor injuries.”
Noting that the MAIB investigation was in progress, BAS said that “to protect patient confidentiality British Antarctic Survey does not disclose personal information”.
The Sir David Attenborough left Liverpool for sea trials in early November 2020 ahead of its ahead of its maiden voyage to Antarctica later this year.
2021-built, Falkland Islands-flagged, 15,609 gt Sir David Attenborough is owned by UK Research & Innovation of Swindon, UK. It is managed by British Antarctic Survey of Cambridge, UK.