The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) releases the occurrence investigation report of the capsizing of the Taiwanese fishing boat "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88".The occurrence occurred at approximately 140 nautical miles northeast of Keelung Port, resulting in the death of the captain and six crew members missing.

On February 27th, 2023, the "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88", a Keelung-registered fishing boat with a gross tonnage of 59.55, registration number CT4-2677, departed from Keelung Badozi Fishing Port at around 2351 local time (LT, UTC + 8). Totally seven crew members on board the fishing boat, including one Taiwanese captain and six Indonesian crew members. The fishing boat scheduled to sail north of 26 degrees north latitude to catch small squid (known as "small squid" in the larval stage).

On March 5th at 1346 LT, a notification was received from the Japan Coast Guard. The "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" was capsized and found at about 140 nautical miles northeast of Keelung Port. The next day, the search and rescue personnel of the Japan Coast Guard found the body of the captain inside the cabin of the fishing boat. The other six crew members were not found and still missing.

In accordance with the Transportation Occurrences Investigation Act, and the relevant content of the Casualty Investigation Code of the International Maritime Organization, the TTSB is an independent transportation occurrence investigation agency and is responsible for conducting the investigation. The investigation team included members from Maritime and Port Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications; Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Agriculture; Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Affairs Council; and National Communications Commission (NCC).

Based on comprehensive factual information and analyses, TTSB proposes three findings and two safety recommendations to related organizations based on comprehensive factual information and analyses from the final report.  This final report was reviewed and approved during the 55th TTSB Board Committee Meeting on October 13, 2023.

Conclusions

After the marine casualty occurred, no witnesses were present in the area, and the case was classified as a class 3 marine casualty. The investigation revealed the following findings:

1. Between 1800 LT on March 1st and 1500 LT on March 2nd, the "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" experienced an extraordinary condition, which may have been caused by heavy weather conditions. The fishing boat may have been hit by swells, causing it to capsize, and the crew members to go missing. The hull of "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" drifted northeastward with the current afterward.
2. Maximum wind force in the area was about level 5 to 6, with maximum wave height reaching 2.5 to 4.0 meters, and a dense fog warning. Several factors made rescue operations more challenging, including

• The emergency positioning radio beacon (EPIRB) may not have been installed on the outside of the cabin wall behind the amidships on the port side of "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88".
• No witnesses were present in the accident area.
• No search and rescue agencies from various countries received any distress signals from "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" (EPIRB, radio signal, etc.).

3. Based on regular inspection records of "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" before the occurrence and interviews with the shipowner, the investigation team eliminated ship structure and equipment failures as well as AIS and VMS failures. Although the ship was equipped with one VMS and three AIS units, the investigation team was unable to determine their installation, necessity, and legality.

• The investigation team found that "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" violated Article 12 of the "Regulations on the Management of Locked Rod Net Fisheries". According to this regulation, locked rod net fishing boats should turn on their AIS and VMS before leaving the port and maintain their normal operation after leaving.
• Additionally, the on-duty staff of the Fisheries Monitoring Center of the Fisheries Department did not detect any violations of AIS and VMS before or after "HSIN CHANG FA NO.88" left the fishing port until it was discovered capsized.

Transportation Safety Recommendations

To Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Agriculture

1. To maintain navigational safety, please review the current promotion methods for installing Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on national fishing boats, with the goal of preventing fishing boat crews from removing EPIRB after annual inspection.
2. Review and strengthen the monitoring mechanism for fishing boat positions, requiring national fishing boats to install and activate AIS and VMS as stipulated. Ensure that departure information of fishing boats can be transmitted in real-time to the Fisheries Monitoring Center of Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Agriculture. Develop effective supervision measures for non-activation of AIS and VMS, as well as violations.

The full final report is in Chinese only and available for download at the website: https://www.ttsb.gov.tw

Vivi Yang, Secretariat Office

Tel: +886-2-7727-6217

E-mail: viviy2314@ttsb.gov.tw

Michael GUAN, Deputy Chief Investigator

Marine Occurrence Investigation Division

Tel: +886-2-7727-6202

E-mail: michael@ttsb.gov.tw