Vessel Stability Case Study

The Wolfson Unit is proud to support the vital work of the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), providing independent technical expertise to assist in their investigations.

The Wolfson Unit supported the MAIB in their investigation into the capsize of a recreational boat due to a loss of stability caused by several concurrent factors, including the accumulation of water on the deck. Tragically, this incident resulted in the loss of life.

Our contribution included:

  • A vessel survey and inclining in air.
  • The preparation of a digital stability model of the vessel.
  • A stability assessment against ISO 12217 standards by calculation and physical testing.
  • A CFD study to further understand the capsize scenario.

The report from the MAIB including the attached Wolfson Unit report in Annex E can be found here.