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Marine Casualty Investigation Board

Boatmaster made no attempt to send mayday alert after twelve tourists tipped into Killarney lake

The master did not hold the required paperwork to transport passengers.

A REPORT HAS found that no alarm was raised after 12 tourists were “tipped” into Lough Leane in Kerry last September after the boat they were travelling in became swamped during “green sea” conditions.

As well as the 12 passengers the boat, the ‘PV Mary Ann of Dunloe’, was also carrying the boatmaster and four bicycles when it became swamped in the Foilecoille area of Lough Leane, which is the largest of the Killarney lakes.

A report from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board revealed that water was already over some of the tourist’s ankles before the boatmaster decided to turn back.

The report notes that the master, who is not named, did not hold the required Department of Transport commercial endorsement to act as master of a passenger boat.

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The incident has been designated as a ”serious marine casualty” which posed the threat of “death or serious injury” to the people in the boat.

The report also reveals that the master made no attempt to send a mayday alert or call for assistance.

All of the passengers and the master were subsequently rescued by three other vessels.

READ: Video captures dramatic rescue of woman and children from capsized boat following Hurricane Maria>

READ: Ferry crew ‘were not trained to rescue people who fell into sea on Aran Islands’>

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