Güllü Torun Vasilev, aged 28, died as a result of the collision between the tender to Isabell Princess of the Sea and RIB Vega.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the collision states that Turkish national Güllü, died through the serious injuries sustained in the collision and drowning as a result of being trapped underwater.
The MAIB report concludes that the tender’s unplanned, high-speed passage violated harbour speed limits and posed a danger to the people on board the tender and on other vessels in the bay.
The report states that collision occurred on the evening of 27 July 2024, with the tender to the Gibraltar registered motor yacht Isabell Princess of the Sea underway within the inner harbour in Göcek, Turkey, when it collided with the drifting Vega.
Avoiding action
The tender was being driven by the owner’s representative and Isabell’s master; neither of them saw Vega in time to take avoiding action.
Güllü was the sole passenger onboard Vega and the MAIB points out that given the speed at the point of impact, it was fortunate that other people were not injured in the collision, including those on board the tender.
Neither vessel was being operated in line with international and local regulations.
In addition, the driver’s judgement might have been impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
28 knots
The tender was travelling at a speed of about 28 knots when it collided with Vega and rode up over the port quarter of the vessel, damaging the helm seat and knocking the coxswain overboard.
Güllü was at the RIB’s stern and was trapped under the tender when it came to rest on top of the smaller vessel.
A local boat was quickly on scene and its skipper helped the tender’s crew to recover Güllü, however, despite prompt first aid, she was later declared deceased.
Unsafe speed
The MAIB report found that the tender was proceeding at an unsafe speed that reduced the time available for the detection of Vega. In addition, the lack of the driver’s night vision could have been a cause of the collision.
The report also found that Vega’s lighting – a single all-round white light that was possibly obscured or inconspicuous against the background lights immediately before the collision – and dark grey hull would have also made the RIB difficult to detect.
Güllü had previously been employed as a stewardess on vessels in the Göcek region.
She was reported to have worked for the company that operated Vega and was known to the coxswain who was driving the RIB.
