The Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, an independent agency responsible for investigating railway, maritime, and aviation accidents and incidents, has completed its assessment of the incident that occurred on March 13, 2025, in the Port of Riga involving the Portuguese-flagged vessel "Beata," during which a crew member sustained severe injuries.
The accident on the Portuguese-flagged vessel "Beata" occurred during crew training involving a free-fall lifeboat. While securing the lifeboat to the launching ramp, a crew member fell into the water, resulting in serious injuries.
After inspecting the accident site and evaluating the circumstances, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau concluded that the event qualifies as a maritime accident under the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Casualty Investigation Code (MSC.255(84)).
The investigation uncovered significant shortcomings in safety procedures. The lifeboat launching instructions provided by the vessel’s operator lacked precise definitions of procedural steps and safety fastening removal procedures. Additionally, specific duties were not assigned to all crew members involved in the lifeboat launch.
Considering that such instructional inadequacies create significant risks, leading to situations where onboard operations rely solely on individual crew experience and verbal agreements, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau decided to issue immediate safety recommendations to the shipping company to prevent similar future incidents.
The Bureau urgently recommended that the vessel's operator immediately review and enhance lifeboat handling instructions in compliance with IMO guidelines, "Guidelines for Lifting Appliances" (MSC.1/Circ.1663). The vessel’s operator has already acknowledged these recommendations and has committed to applying these safety instructions to all company vessels moving forward.
The Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau is a direct administration authority under the supervision of the Minister of Transport, primarily responsible for investigating railway accidents and other significant railway incidents, civil aviation accidents, maritime accidents, analyzing their causes, and developing safety recommendations in compliance with Latvian and international regulations.