Fatal Midsummer Boating Accident in Kotka Caused by Missing Engine Drain Plug
A fatal boating accident near Kotka during Midsummer was likely caused by a missing drain plug in the engine’s cooling system, according to the Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes). One person drowned when the motorboat sank near Kuutsalo on 18 June, while another was rescued.
Otkes determined that water began flooding into the boat’s engine compartment due to a missing cooling water drain plug. The pump had been serviced six weeks prior, at which time the plugs were confirmed to be in place. The boat had been used for less than three hours between the service and the accident. Ilta-Sanomat (IS) reports that the boat’s waterline had changed before the fatal voyage, suggesting water may have entered even earlier.
The vessel, an approximately 40-year-old Jurmo 620 with a Mercury V6 petrol engine, was stern-heavy. As water filled the engine compartment, it quickly rose to a vertical position before sinking to a depth of about 12 metres. The boat’s captain escaped as it sank, but the passenger remained trapped inside. A Border Guard surface diver rescued the captain, but the passenger could not be saved due to the lack of diving equipment on board. The passenger was later recovered from the sunken boat about two hours after the accident (IS).
Difficulties in Escaping a Sinking Boat
Otkes highlighted the challenges of escaping a sinking inboard-engine boat. If the engine compartment floods, the vessel becomes tail-heavy and rises vertically before submerging rapidly. Yle notes that escaping in such cases requires diving or climbing skills, which are hindered by life jackets or survival suits. Otkes described the boat as a "death trap" in these circumstances.
The authority advised boaters to inspect engine compartments and bilges before departure to detect leaks early. It also recommended leaving the cockpit immediately if flooding occurs and putting on life jackets on deck.
Similarities to 2020 Border Guard Accident
The Kotka incident bears resemblance to a 2020 accident involving a Border Guard patrol boat, where one person escaped through a roof hatch while another drowned. Following that incident, Otkes recommended that the Transport and Communications Agency improve communication about the dangers of flooding. The authority emphasised that rescuing someone from inside a sinking boat is a high-risk operation with no guaranteed success (Yle).
Otkes has concluded its investigation into the Kotka accident and will not pursue further inquiries.
