On September 9, 2023, a dramatic collision occurred between two pleasure boats in a popular area of the Parc National des Calanques, at the exit of the Passage des Croisettes. This accident highlights the issues of maritime safety and the management of recreational activities.
The facts: a high-speed collision in a densely populated area
The Diplodus, a former trawler converted into a diving platform, carried 14 passengers on a fish-counting mission. Meanwhile, the Sky Fall, a modern speedboat (10.28 m saxdor 320 GTO) rented via an online platform, sailed with seven people on board, including its owner as skipper.
At around 4.54pm, after passing through the Croisettes Narrows at the regulation speed of 5 knots, the Sky Fall, catching up with the Diplodus, suddenly accelerated to almost 29 knots. At the same time, a distraction on the part of the skipper to reprimand a standing passenger, unbalanced by the acceleration, led to an involuntary change of course. In a matter of seconds, the speedboat struck the starboard stern of the Diplodus, crossing her deck and destroying all her superstructure. Nine of the Diplodus's passengers were thrown overboard, and a total of 13 people were injured, four of them in absolute emergency.
Sky Fall suffered minimal damage, but Diplodus was declared a total loss.
Key lessons from the accident
1. The role of speed in a restricted environment
The Croisettes Passage, although limited to 5 knots in the 300 m band, is an area of intense traffic where ships of varying sizes and speeds converge (especially at the start and end of the day). Lifting the speed limit when leaving the 300 m band often leads ships to accelerate immediately, increasing the risk of collision. One recommendation is to extend the speed limit to 10 knots within a one-mile radius to reduce these risks.
2. Inadequate passenger management and the human factor
The skipper of the Sky Fall, while sailing at high speed, did not pay attention to the position and behavior of his passengers. The reprimand of a standing passenger diverted his attention, causing a fatal maneuver (involuntary course change). This lack of passenger management reflects a lack of specific training for recreational skippers in semi-professional conditions.
3. Regulatory ambiguities associated with rental platforms
The Sky Fall was rented via a co-browsing platform (Clik and Boat), but passenger management was more akin to a commercial activity. As the skipper was not qualified to carry paying passengers, the operation of the vessel did not comply with the regulations in force for commercial pleasure craft (NUC).
4. Security and tenant information loopholes
Platforms such as ClickandBoat do not guarantee the legality or safety of the services offered, leaving renters potentially exposed to increased risks. Greater transparency and control over the status of vessels and skippers are needed to avoid such situations.
Measures planned to prevent such incidents
Several recommendations are aimed at improving maritime safety:
- Extend speed limit zones to reduce the risk of collisions.
- Clarify and strengthen regulations on commercial pleasure craft.
- Require platforms to systematically check the compliance of ships and skippers.
- Make boaters aware of their responsibilities as lessees and skippers.
This tragic collision is a reminder that, although pleasure boating is synonymous with leisure, it requires rigorous management of behavior, strict compliance with safety rules and better regulation of activities linked to online platforms.
