River Dart RIB collision prompts safety warning
A rigid inflatable boat (RIB) carrying local river users collided with a commercial vessel on the River Dart in Devon. The commercial vessel's bow struck the RIB's A‑frame, flipping the small craft upside down and throwing the occupants into the water. None of the people on board were wearing lifejackets and the RIB's kill cord was not engaged, so the outboard engine continued to run and its propeller posed an additional hazard.
No serious injuries were reported; the occupants swam ashore. The Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority issued a safety warning, urging all river users to keep a proper visual lookout, plan their passage, wear a lifejacket and always use a kill cord. The authority noted that “in slightly different circumstances there could easily have been three deaths.” The operator of the commercial vessel also improved its lookout procedures following the incident.
Entities
Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority · River Dart · commercial vessel · rigid inflatable boat (RIB)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] No serious injuries were reported; occupants swam ashore. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The authority noted that in slightly different circumstances there could have been three deaths. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority issued a safety warning urging river users to keep a proper visual lookout, plan their passage, wear a lifejacket and always use a kill cord. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The RIB's kill cord was not in use, so the outboard engine continued running after the collision. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] A collision occurred between a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and a commercial vessel on the River Dart. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] None of the occupants were wearing lifejackets. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The collision flipped the RIB upside down and threw occupants into the water. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The operator of the commercial vessel improved its lookout procedures after the incident. www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk · www.southhams-today.co.uk · www.totnes-today.co.uk