DMAIB Report on Loss of Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper
September 1st 2017
On the 22 December 2016 two offshore supply ships, Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper, were under 'side-by-side' tow to a shipbreaker in Turkey when they were lost in the Bay of Biscay circa 65nm off the Coast of France. The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board found that the fenders placed between the two vessels failed while transitting the English Channel. The subsequent buffering caused extensive structural damage and water ingress causing Maersk Searcher to sink which then draged Maersk Shipper under. The full report is available from The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board.