The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) released the final report of the occurrence investigation on the recreational fishing vessel "Guei Shan Jau Ryh II", a passenger overboard off the coast of Yilan.

On April 21, 2024, a Taiwan-registered fishing recreational vessel, “Guei Shan Jau Ryh II” (CT No. CTF3-0052), carried 57 people (53 passengers and 4 crew members) to the waters off Yilan for a whale-watching trip. After the trip, a passenger’s belongings were found left on board. On April 28, the Coast Guard recovered the passenger’s body 4 miles east of Wuyan Cape.

In accordance with the Transportation Occurrences Investigation Act, and the relevant contents of the Casualty Investigation Code of the International Maritime Organization, the TTSB is an independent transportation occurrence investigation agency responsible for conducting this major occurrence investigation. The investigation team included members of the Maritime and Port Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Fisheries Agency Ministry of Agriculture, and Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Affair Council.

Based on comprehensive factual information and analyses, the final report presents five findings and four safety recommendations for the relevant organizations. The final report was reviewed and approved at the 68th TTSB Board Meeting on October 11th, 2024.

Findings

1. The weather during the accident was sunny, the wind was northerly, force 2, the wave height was 0.5 meters, and the sea conditions and visibility were good.
2. The passenger overboard may have occurred when the "Guei Shan Jau Ryh II" was on its way back. After the ship completed its U-turn clockwise, the victim fell into the sea near the bitt pile on the starboard side during the process of turning left.
3. According to the monitor record of the "Guei Shan Jau Ryh II", the last figure of the victim was wearing a life jacket, and the number of life jackets installed after the subsequent inventory was one less. Therefore, it is determined that the victim was wearing a life jacket when he fell into the sea.
4. The location where the victim fell into the sea was not within the field of view the camera of "Guei Shan Jau Ryh II". The crew did not notice that the victim fell into the sea at that time. Therefore, there is no evidence to confirm the reason why the victim fell into the sea.
5. The captain of the "Guei Shan Jau Ryh II"or his authorized crew failed to conduct a headcount after returning to the voyage.

Transportation Safety Recommendation

To Toucheng Fishermen's Association

1. Evaluate the planning of ship surveillance systems and crew patrol arrangements when the ship is carrying passengers, to ensure timely detection of any abnormal situations and safeguard passenger safety.
2. Implement the roll call system for passengers boarding and disembarking before departure and after return to ensure that necessary emergency search and rescue measures can be taken promptly.

To Yilan County Government

1. Supervise the affiliated fishermen's associations in evaluating the planning of ship surveillance systems and crew patrol arrangements while the ship is carrying passengers, to ensure timely detection of any abnormal situations and safeguard passenger safety.
2. Supervise the affiliated fishermen's associations in implementing a roll call system for passengers boarding and disembarking before departure and after return to ensure that necessary emergency search and rescue measures can be taken promptly.

Full Final Report in Chinese is available for download at https://www.ttsb.gov.tw

Ya-Ting Chang, Secretariat Office
Tel: +886-2-7727-6210
E-mail: yating@ttsb.gov.tw

Willis Chen, Investigator-In-Charge
Marine Occurrence Investigation Division
Tel: +886-2-7727-6246
E-mail: michael@ttsb.gov.tw