Jean Elaine grounded in Saint Peter’s Pool. Courtesy of Aitor Campos Jordan
A dive support vessel, Jean Elaine, which grounded in the Scotland in 2024 was not certified for operation at the time of the accident said a report published by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).
What happened
On 22 July 2024, the dive support vessel Jean Elaine grounded on a falling tide in Saint Peter’s Pool in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The vessel developed a severe port list and suffered water ingress. Despite efforts to save the vessel, it was ultimately abandoned. There were no injuries or fatalities.
At the time of the accident, Jean Elaine was not certified for operation and the skipper’s certificate of competence had expired. Heriot-Watt University, which was using the vessel for a research project, had not verified validity of the vessel or crew certification before its use.
The investigation identified that the accident occurred due to a lack of adequate planning and ineffective communication between the skipper and research team. The incident also highlighted the importance of effective oversight, risk management, and adherence to regulatory requirements when operating vessels in support of educational or scientific activities.
Jean Elaine
Jean Elaine was constructed in 1956 as a wooden fishing trawler. In 1994, Jean Elaine was converted to a dive support vessel for recreational and research diving in the Orkneys.
In May 2019, Jean Elaine was surveyed to the requirements of Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 280 (M): Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats – Alternative Construction Standards published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The vessel was certified as an Area Category 2 workboat, permitting it to carry up to 12 passengers a maximum of 60 nautical miles from a safe haven. The certificate was valid until 28 April 2024.
On 29 April 2024, Jean Elaine was examined out of the water for the renewal of its certificate. The examination was carried out by MECAL Ltd, a certifying authority authorised by the MCA to survey and certify vessels under MGN 280 (M). The survey identified sprung and rotten hull planking (Figure 3) and the certificate held by Jean Elaine was not renewed. The suspension of certificate notice issued by MECAL Ltd to the skipper of Jean Elaine stated that, While this suspension notice is in force, the vessel must not operate commercially.
Jean Elaine did not hold a valid certificate for the voyage undertaken on the day of the grounding.
Safety issues
- There was no passage plan to support the safe navigation of the vessel. The risk to Jean Elaine from its passage into Saint Peter’s Pool was not identified.
- There was a lack of coordination of the activities of the vessel and the dive team.
- Jean Elaine was not certified for operation at the time of the accident.
- The poor condition of Jean Elaine’s hull likely contributed to its failure following the grounding.
- Heriot-Watt University did not ensure that Jean Elaine was appropriately certified before the expedition.
Read the full report: MAIB 15-2025 report – Jean Elaine
