The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has once again raised concerns about safety standards in the fishing industry following its report into the loss of the trawler Freedom II in Scottish waters.
The incident occurred on February 21, 2024, approximately 11 nautical miles southwest of Oban. The vessel suffered severe flooding in the engine room, which the crew was unable to control.
All four crew members failed to correctly identify the source of the flooding and were eventually rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
⚠️ Key causes of the incident
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Damage to the seawater inlet pipe caused by vibration
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Water inflow exceeded bilge pump capacity
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Failure of additional onboard pumps
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Water sprayed onto electrical systems, preventing auxiliary engine start
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Portable emergency pump failed to restart after relocation
❗ Crew errors
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Incorrect identification of the flooding source
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Assumed leak from the stern tube seal
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Lack of an effective emergency response plan
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Critical time lost due to wrong decisions
🕒 Timeline of events
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04:00 — Departure from Crinan
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07:00 — Fishing operations began
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10:00 — Gear retrieval, abnormal vibration detected
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Attempts to clear propeller unsuccessful
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Decision made to proceed toward Oban
🌊 Sinking
The vessel was unable to complete the transit due to uncontrolled flooding.
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13:02 — Water reached half the engine height
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Vessel stopped
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15:35 — Listed to port and sank
All crew members were successfully rescued, but the vessel was lost and has not been located.
📊 MAIB statistics
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230 flooding incidents involving fishing vessels (2013–2022)
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78 vessels lost
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Engine room flooding remains the most common cause
💬 MAIB conclusion
“Without effective flood response guidance, fishing vessels remain at significant risk in uncontrolled flooding situations.”
