Swamping of small commercial vessel Calypso 2 with loss of 2 lives
On 11 March 2023, the small commercial vessel Calypso 2 entered a cove near West End, Anguilla. The boat was overwhelmed by the force of the large ground seas that had developed near the coast and the four passengers and two crew were ejected into the water. Tragically, the mate and a female passenger lost their lives.
A recommendation has been made to The Anguilla Maritime Administration and Shipping Registry to work with the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency to develop and implement a marine safety management system to ensure that operational risks are adequately assessed and managed. Also, to ensure that the installation of automatic identification systems and safety management requirements are verified during small commercial vessel inspections. Recommendations have also been made to Calypso Charters Ltd to develop and implement a safety management system for its domestically operating commercial vessels and to the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal Anguilla Police Force for the provision of additional equipment and the updating of triage procedures to improve their ability to respond to maritime emergencies.
Photograph credit
Photograph of Calypso 2 courtesy of Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service.
