Finding into death of Apostolos Katelas
Deceased
Apostolos (Paul) Katelas
Demographics
41y, male
Date of death
2009-10-10
Finding date
2013-11-01
Cause of death
Drowning
AI-generated summary
Two men drowned when their recreational fishing vessel sank in Port Phillip Bay in October 2009. The vessel, a 5.2m Haines Hunter, had an unsealed oval aperture in the engine well (originally designed for steering cable, later modified for hydraulic steering) that allowed water ingress. With both men positioned at the stern, the vessel's transom sat lower in the water, facilitating rapid water entry through this aperture into the bilge and hull via missing bait well drain plugs. The men failed to don available Type 1 PFDs or activate flares. The non-functional 27MHz marine radio and reliance on mobile phone communication (which Mr Katelas tried to use rather than dialling 000) delayed effective alarm raising. Lessons include: ensuring proper vessel maintenance and sealing of hull openings, mandatory use of safety equipment during marine emergencies, dialling 000 immediately for marine emergencies, and consideration of mandatory EPIRBs and marine radios for vessels in enclosed waters like Port Phillip Bay.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Unsealed oval aperture in engine well allowing water ingress
- Modification of vessel from cable steering to hydraulic steering without proper sealing
- Missing drain plugs in bait well housings
- Both men positioned at stern causing transom to sit lower in water
- Non-functional 27MHz marine radio
- Failure to wear available Type 1 Personal Flotation Devices
- Failure to activate available flare signals
- Poor mobile phone signal and communication delay
- Inability to verify vessel location with rescue services
- Lack of marine emergency preparedness and training
- Absence of bilge pump
- Absence of EPIRB on vessel
Coroner's recommendations
- Maritime Safety Division of Transport Safety Victoria should research the use of marine radios and EPIRBs in Port Phillip Bay and other designated enclosed waters to explore the merit and feasibility of mandating these devices, including determining current usage rates and public view towards potential requirements
- Continue boating education campaigns addressing: (a) the importance of going beyond minimum safety equipment requirements when operating vessels in Victorian waters, particularly encouraging marine radios and EPIRBs in enclosed waters such as Port Phillip Bay; (b) fundamental steps in marine emergencies including wearing PFDs and raising alarm through available means; (c) if using mobile telephone for alarm, the importance of dialling triple zero in the first instance
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