Bugeja says he did not know how to operate Simshar safety equipment
The ill-fated trawler Simshar (registered Samsher) which disappeared in July last year had three life saving devices, but sole survivor Simon Bugeja apparently did not know how to use any of them.
A preliminary inquiry report, tabled in Parliament today, says that the Samsher had the EPRIB, VHF equipment with automatic digital selective calling, and a VMS distress button.
Asked why he did not active the EPRIB, Mr Bugeja said he had no idea how to use it because no one had informed him.
Yet, Dr Fenech said, all he had to do was to take the equipment it out of its cradle and turn the switch to the on position. Had this been activated, a distress signal would have been picked up by satellite and comunicated to the search and rescue centre in Malta.
Dr Fenech said she had had informal discussions with other fishermen, some of whom were also unaware that this equipment had to be activated.
VHF EQUIPMENT
Dr Fenech said the VHF had a distress button and all one had to do to activate it was to press it. It was not necessary to find the channel and send a distress call. But, again, Mr Bugeja said he did not really know how to operate it.
Dr Fenech said she found this hard to understand. Had he pressed the distress button, the signal would have been picked up by passing merchant vessel, including the MV Helide, which was just 36 miles away from the Samsher at the time. The VHF had a range of between 30 and 50 miles.
VMF DISTRESS BUTTON
On the VMF distress button, Dr Fenech said the VMS was not a safety measure. However, it had been established that the VMS machine on the Simshar had an automatic distress signal button which enabled the user to simply press it for five seconds, and the signal would have been picked up by satellite. Again, Simon Bugeja said he did not know about it, although Datatrak personnel said they were quite sure that when the system was installed, Mr Bugeja was fully informed about the function of the distress button.
"The Samsher (Simshar), therefore, had three separate and distinct safety devices which were all capable of extremely simple activation and which could have saved the lives of those who lost them. The main reason cited for their lack of activation was lack of time and, according to Simon Bugeja, the lack of knowledge on their activation. I find this level of ignorance on the activation of life-saving equipment unacceptable," Dr Fenech said.
The full report can be seen at:
http://doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2009/06/pr1118a.pdf
See also:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090630/local/what-caused-the-simshar-explosion
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TRW O'Neill
Jul 1st 2009, 13:52
Did I not read about the granting of licences to operate power boats, illegally , to people who had paid bribes, to pass, rather than reallly take the course. about 2 years ago? Just like the people who paid to pass the Driving test examiners a bribe, & not being made to retake the test., after being found out. The wonder is that there are not more fatalities at sea, & on the roads. QED.
joe b riffa
Jun 30th 2009, 23:31
hard to believe when you r an experienced fisherman isn't it???? I thought it is a must to know the full function and master navigation of a fishing boat when you need to sail,and shouldnt kids be at school during late May????
Peter Bonnici
Jun 30th 2009, 23:17
Did the boat blow up or not? Was the switch panel operable or was it completely blown out? Is the VHF not a handheld device? Could Bugeja not have called for assistance when in the water? Did he say that he lost it?, or that he did not know how to use it? So if he didn't know how to use it, did he simply discard it? I think this inquiry raised more questions than it answered. I think we're back to square one.
D Vella
Jun 30th 2009, 19:51
Ignorance once again has cost lives. Not only that,why are these people ,who man these boats ,not only given instructions but shown physically how to use the equipment. It isn't good enough to just tell somebody how to use something,he has to use it in the presence of experts.
I find this a general fault on this Island ,where information is never freely volunteered,and when pressed begrudgingly given. For an important piece of equipment such as this, a test ought to be given after coaching by the seller. Then and only then are they licensed to be in charge of other peoples lives.
I am angry at the needless cost of lives.