Southampton Water boat crash an 'accident waiting to happen'

Emily Lewis, who was 15, was killed when the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) she was on with her family crashed into a buoy in Southampton Water. 

The high-speed excursion run by Southampton company SeaDogz took place on the morning of August 2020, with the boat crashing at around 44mph. 

Emily, from Park Gate, suffered severe injuries when she was thrown against the hand railing and died in hospital later that day. 

Now, Captain Andrew Moll OBE, chief inspector at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, has said the crash was an "accident waiting to happen". 

READ MORE: Emily Lewis: Family issue statement after sentencing

Speaking as the final report on the investigation was published, Mr Moll said the incident has an "unimaginable impact on all of those affected".

"The fact that a passenger excursion on a modern rigid inflatable boat (RIB) being operated in favourable conditions by an appropriately qualified and highly experienced skipper could result in such terrible consequences is difficult to comprehend.

"Two things are especially significant about this tragic accident.

"The first is that the accident would likely not have happened had the trip been conducted in line with industry good practice.

"The second is that passengers in small high-speed craft are very vulnerable to impact and vibration injuries.

"I am therefore hoping that the maritime regulator, manufacturers and operators of small high-speed passenger craft will take the lessons from this report as a stimulus to action.

"As the report says, this was an accident waiting to happen. Let it be the last."

Michael Lawrence (left) and Michael Howley outside Winchester Crown Court. (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

Capt Moll's investigation comes after the skipper Michael Lawrence and company owner Michael Howley were sentenced for their part in Emily's death.

Lawrence, 55, of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, was convicted of failing to maintain a proper lookout and a safe speed during the crash that killed Emily. 

Howley, 52, of Deer Park Close, New Milton, was convicted of failing to ensure that a ship was operated in a safe manner.

They were both given an 18 week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered they each complete 125 hours of unpaid work.

The investigation found that Lawrence did not see the buoy in sufficient time and had been manoeuvring between buoys in the Solent before the crash. 

It also found that SeaDogz’ seating and handholds afforded "little protection to those on board" for rapid deceleration with no safety management system, and "cursory and generic" risk assessments.

Now a number of recommendations have been made to The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, The British Standards Institution, Red Bay Boats Ltd and Associated British Ports Southampton.

They include completing assessments of the design for small high-speed craft, proposals to ensure a skipper's view is not impacted by passengers when a boat is fully loaded and ensuring that risk assessments consider the operation of small high-speed boats in Southampton Water.