The investigation identified that the major factors contributing to the structural failure included the way the cargo was loaded – putting pressure on the midships section – and a lack of repairs in recent years. “Worldwide, between 20, nearly 250 cargo vessels foundered causing the deaths of more than 800 seafarers – statistics that bring into sharp focus the need for action to be taken to improve the safety of general cargo vessels.” The ship sank shortly after the first mayday call.Ī spokesman for the MAIB said: “This was a tragic and avoidable accident that cost the lives of six crew. The bodies of the five remaining crew members have never been discovered.Ī report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) today outlined several problems with the Swanland, which was carrying nearly 3,000 tonnes of limestone when it experienced a “structural failure when heading directly into rough seas and gale force winds” while on passage from Llanddulas, in Conwy, to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.Īn infrared image of the rescue mission for the crew of the Swanland Chief Officer Leonid Safonov, 50, was pronounced dead after his body was recovered from the sea shortly afterwards.

Two of the crew – Second Officer Roman Savin, 27, and Able Seaman Vitaly Karpenko, 48 – were airlifted to safety by an RAF helicopter co-piloted by the Duke of Cambridge as the ship sank. The whole incident could have been avoided, investigators said. The Swanland, which had a Russian crew, ran aground around 20 miles off the coast of the Llyn Peninsula in November 2011.Īn investigation has now found the ship, which sailed under a Cook Islands flag, had not been properly maintained and was severely weakened by corrosion in the two years between its intermediate survey and the accident in the Irish Sea on November 27, 2011. A huge cargo ship which ran aground off the coast of North Wales, killing six crew members, was heavily overloaded and had been subject to 'cost-cutting measures', an investigation has found.

Hard Aground . . . Again by Staff