Investigation Report
Keel detachment and capsize of sailing yacht Cheeki Rafiki with loss of 4 lives
Keel detachment and capsize of sailing yacht Cheeki Rafiki with loss of 4 lives
- MAIB
- Investigation Report
- Marine OperationsStructural and Asset IntegrityVessel and Mooring
- Loss of vessel stabilityRegulation and legislationStructural and asset integrityVessel flooding and foundering
- Inspection and maintenanceNavigation
- Personal locator beacons
- Competence and trainingEvacuation, escape and rescueFlood containment and watertight integrityNon-destructive testing
- Marine industry
- Marine watersVessel
Summary
Investigation of Cheeki Rafiki’s keel detachment and capsize during an Atlantic passage, after which four crew remained missing. It examines bonded hull–matrix integrity, grounding inspections, certification, passage planning, flooding response, beacon performance and liferaft accessibility. The report explicitly acknowledges uncertainty about the accident’s causes.
Classifications: Loss of vessel stability; capsize; vessel stability.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Structural and asset integrity; asset integrity; structural integrity.
Classifications: Vessel flooding and foundering; water ingress.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Navigation; vessel navigation; passage planning.
Classifications: Personal locator beacons; PLB.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Flood containment and watertight integrity.
Classifications: Non-destructive testing; NDT; non-destructive examination; NDE.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Marine waters.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
The report examines keel detachment and subsequent capsize of a sailing yacht, resulting in four fatalities.
Themes: marine operations, structural and asset integrity, vessel and mooring.