Kiribati Government Attributes Ferry Sinking to Numerous Safety Violations

The ferry set off from Nonouti and was headed for Tarawa, pictured above. (Wikimedia Commons)

The government of Kiribati has issued an official report regarding the sinking of a ferry in 2018. The report found numerous regulatory violations and failings among the crew.

The MV Butiraoi, a catamaran ferry, set off from the island of Nonouti carrying 102 passengers on January 18, 2018, on a routine trip to the capital, Tarawa. After facing heavy swells, the boat capsized, leaving passengers scrambling for seats on the four smaller lifeboats available. One inflatable lifeboat was punctured and rendered useless, and another saw its bottom fall out, forcing survivors to cling to the still-inflated sides.

Because the ferry did not have a functioning radio and the captain failed to alert port authorities of its departure, no one realized there was a problem until the boat was well overdue in Tarawa. Authorities recovered one lifeboat on January 27, carrying seven survivors. "Most, if not all, victims died from hunger, dehydration and hypothermia," the report said, including "[o]ne [who] died while giving birth in [these] most unhealthy and extreme conditions."

The report, commissioned by the Office of the President, found numerous problems with the boat and the crew. The boat had previously run aground twice, which likely damaged its structure, and it had not received repairs. Additionally, the ferry was not licensed to carry passengers and did not have enough life jackets for all on board. The radio license expired on January 1, and its seaworthiness was set to expire on January 20, making the vessel likely unseaworthy at the time of its set-off. Alcohol use was rampant during work hours, which "gave every drunken crew [member] the feeling of grandeur and power to make decisions alone,” according to the report.

The captain himself, who did not survive the accident, was singled out for criticism. "It was obvious the master of the MV Butiraoi was reckless and inconsiderate of the ship, crew and passengers,” the report said, adding that after the disaster, "[h]e was seen sitting on one of the capsized hull [sic] with some passengers obviously dazed, regretful, and sorry." The report concluded that he did not perform his duties "during the chaos when tragedy struck" and "showed complete lack of leadership."

The Australian and New Zealander militaries took part in the two-day search and rescue operation, and a New Zealand military plane eventually found the group of survivors.

In addition to listing the laws broken leading up to the disaster, the report recommended changes to existing regulations that govern maritime transport, such as banning alcohol during work hours, requiring damage reports to be sent to the central government, and ensuring that all vessels have adequate numbers of life vests. It also recommended that a memorial be erected for the victims.