The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has released a report regarding an incident involving the fast rescue craft (FRC) of the ferry Lord of the Isles. During a training exercise on August 23, 2025, the FRC was unintentionally launched, falling 9 meters into the water. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the craft was irreparably damaged and required replacement.
The incident occurred shortly after the ferry departed Lochboisdale, Scotland, for Mallaig. The crew, led by the chief officer, conducted a toolbox talk to review the complex 20-step procedure for launching the FRC using stored power. However, during the launch, the chief officer mistakenly opened a drain valve instead of the correct launch valve, resulting in the loss of hydraulic pressure and the FRC’s uncontrolled descent.
Upon inspection, it was revealed that the mislabeling of the valves contributed to the error. The drain valve, which should only be used for maintenance, was positioned incorrectly and lacked proper labeling, leading to confusion. In response, CalMac Ferries Limited has updated safety procedures, secured the drain valve, improved labeling, and scheduled a replacement of the FRC davit system to prevent future incidents.
