Design-Flaws Articles
Piloting a superyacht can be an invigorating experience. The feel of the salt air, the wind in the sails, and the stunning vistas can create the impression of conquering the seas. However, beneath this adventurous façade lurks the harsh reality of maritime safety. As any seasoned sailor will profess, being on the open water is not without risks, particularly when it comes to boarding a vessel under challenging sea conditions.
Recently, a case study from CHIRP Maritime’s Superyacht Feedback highlighted the risks associated with boarding a superyacht. This knowledge sharing program brought attention to several design flaws that could jeopardize the safety of both maritime pilots and crew members. Prompting this investigation were a series of unsuccessful boarding attempts under adverse weather conditions, along with the vessel’s corresponding non-compliant safety protocols.
Embarking on a fascinating narrative, we plunge into a case study following a 50-meter-plus sailing superyacht’s ordeal. The vessel had just set sail when an unusual amount of spray was spotted on one of its decks. The root cause – a rogue shell door, a boarding platform with a cavity for guest amenities, left wide open. Despite not providing direct ingress to the yacht’s interiors, the open door could have caused considerable harm, even potentially rupturing hydraulic hoses had it not been identified in time.
Pre-departure checks (PDCs) underscored the significance of securing all hull openings. However, the yacht’s design, coupled with the door and hull’s shape, meant that identifying this vulnerability required an overboard glance. Complicating matters further, the shell door’s associated sensor was known to be problematic, often giving false readings thereby compromising the monitoring system and sounding false alarms.