#MCIB - What caused a razor clam boat to capsize off Rosslare a year ago? According to accident investigators, the answer remains a mystery.
It was this day a year ago (15 July 2014) when the MFV Molly's Quest set out from Rosslare Harbour with three crew for an eight-hour razor fishing trip that ended in disaster when the vessel suddenly heeled to port and sank.
All three crew were rescued by two other razor boats in the area, but their boat was not recovered by salvage contractors till more than a month later.
Despite expected damage to some parts of the vessel for being submerged for so long, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was able to determine that it was generally in good condition, and subsequent roll tests saw that it passed inspection with no water ingress.
What could not be determined is precisely what caused the boat to turn sharply to port after its dredging cage was wound in, and heel so dramatically that it began taking on water, leading to its sinking.
The crew confirmed in interviews during the investigation that the vessel experienced some mechanical failure shortly before the incident, when the gear control cable for the main engine broke.
But that does not explain why what happened to the vessel later when it was taken out of gear, with the boat itself offering no other clues.
The full report from the MCIB is available to read or download HERE.
