THIS IS THE REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION of the collision of the rigid inflatable boat Peaky Blinder with a navigation beacon in Portsmouth Harbour, England, resulting in two fatalities.
It has no connection with narrowboats, but I thought it of interest—Editor.
In the evening of 14th August 2025 the rigid inflatable boat Peaky Blinder collided with navigation beacon 81 in Portsmouth harbour.
The owner, who was driving the boat, and the two passengers on board were ejected into the water. One passenger was recovered unconscious from the water and later declared deceased, the owner’s body was recovered five days later. The remaining passenger survived with minor injuries.
The key safety issues identified were:
- the vessel was being operated at an unsafe speed immediately before the collision, putting the RIB’s occupants and other water users at risk
- the owner of the vessel was under the influence of alcohol, this substantially increased the likelihood of an accident
- no one on board the vessel was wearing a PFD which meant they were unavailable to reduce consequences of entering the water
- the system of regulation, enforcement and education in the recreational community were ineffective in influencing on the water behaviours' with respect to alcohol consumption.
Safety recommendations:
The King’s Harbour Master, Portsmouth has been recommended to:
- Take action to improve adherence to the speed limits contained in the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005.
The Secretary of State for Transport has been recommended to:
- Make an order to commence the provisions on alcohol limits for non-professional mariners contained in the Railways and Transport Safety Act, 2003
- Develop and enact proportionate secondary legislation to define the scope of application of subsection 80(3) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 using the powers contained in subsection 80(4) of the Act.
- Develop a national strategy for the delivery of an effective educational and awareness campaign.
Rob Loder, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, stated:
"It is well understood that consumption of alcohol results in an elevated risk of having an accident. The introduction of alcohol limits for recreational boaters has been the subject of previous MAIB recommendations. It is to be hoped that action will now be taken, such that fatal accidents in which excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor become a thing of the past."