Marine safety investigations & reports
Lifeboat accident and fatalities - Lowlands Grace
Investigation number:
208
208
Status: Completed

Summary
On 7 October 2004 two crew members were killed and three others seriously injured when Lowlands Grace's port lifeboat became detached from its falls during a lifeboat drill. The ship, a Hong Kong registered cape-sized bulk carrier, was at anchor off the port of Port Hedland, Western Australia, at the time of the accident.
Investigation revealed that the lifeboat's after hook had failed where it was attached to the keel while the boat was being lowered. The lifeboat's stern had then dropped and the boat rotated around the remaining forward fall before the forward hook opened under the load of the swinging boat. The lifeboat then fell upside down into the sea approximately 16 metres below.
General details
Date: | 07 October 2004 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | N/A | ||||
Location: | off Port Hedland | ||||
State: | Western Australia | ||||
Release date: | 09 February 2006 | Occurrence category: | Serious Incident | ||
Report status: | Final | Highest injury level: | Fatal |
Vessel details
Vessel | Lowlands Grace | |
---|---|---|
Flag | HK | |
IMO | 8911499 | |
Type of operation | Bulk Carrier | |
Damage to vessel | Nil | |
Destination | Port Hedland, WA |
Injuries
Crew | Passenger | Ground | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fatal: | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Serious: | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Total: | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |