Skip to content
CALL 1300 15 84 33  ●  Marine Survey Services Across Australia & New Zealand  ●  Certified: ISO 9001:2015

NEWS & ARTICLES

Findings in Queensland trawler sinking inquest

Back to all Articles
Coroners Court of Queensland

We have been following closely the inquest into the sinking of the FV Cassandra and the FV Dianne.

The recommendations below may benefit commercial fisherman, and it remains to be seen if they are implemented by AMSA. Interesting that these types of fishing vessels are listed as Low and Medium Risk by AMSA.

Coroners report here:  https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/624176/cif-fvdianneandfvcassandra-20190829.pdf

Coroner David O’Connell held inquest in Gladstone in March into sinking of FV Cassandra on April 4, 2016, and FV Dianne on October 16, 2017.

  • Matt Roberts, 61, and David Chivers, 36, died when FV Cassandra overturned off Fraser Island. Their bodies were never found.
  • FV Dianne rolled and sank off the Town of 1770 on October 16, 2017, killing Adam Hoffman, 30, Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, Zach Feeney, 28, Chris Sammut, 34, and Mr Leahy, 45.
  • Sole survivor, Ruben McDornan, forced a door open against rushing water and swam to surface.

 

THE FINDINGS

Mr O’Connell says 18 commercial fishermen have died at sea off Queensland since 2004. Despite safety recommendations from a number of inquests, little has changed.

  • He found the Dianne’s crew fell victim to the capsize, the cause left as an opening finding.
  • The men aboard FV Cassandra drowned most likely after a net hooked on the seafloor and it turned over in wild seas.

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Place emergency grab bags to help crew exit a capsized vessel near the helm and in the sleeping cabin.
  • Install self-illuminating LED strip lighting and emergency exit signs.
  • Secure bulky items in a wheelhouse so they can’t move in a capsize.
  • Crews wear inflatable style vests with personal locator beacons.
  • Find solutions to ensure doors can be opened against water pressure.
  • Review use of quad gear in the Sandy Straits area for trawling.
  • Ensure vessels include in their safety management systems a copy of the vessel’s original plans, any modifications and tests of modifications.
  • Safety management systems include safe methods for retrieving snagged net.
  • Fisheries department immediately implement a vessel monitoring system feature designed to send SMS or email to police if a ship fails to “poll” on system, which may indicate it has sunk.

Sign up to our Free Newsletter

Get the latest maritime news and views by subscribing to our free newsletter.

We will never send you spam. For more information, see our privacy policy.

About Us

Maritime Survey Australia is the leader in Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) Survey Services in Australia. With AMSA Accredited Marine Surveyors in every state, we offer Vessel Survey Services and Maritime Consulting across the whole of Australia and New Zealand.

Survey Services

Consulting

Company

Partners and Affiliates

AMSA Logo - Footer
IIMS Logo - Footer
Institute of Marine Engineering Logo - small - Footer
AIMEX Logo - Footer
associations logo - auctioneers and valuers association of australia
Back To Top