Ten Vessel Groundings Raise Safety Alarm as
The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA) has recorded 10 vessel groundings in Virgin Islands waters between February and December 2025, including four incidents between October and December, a tally confirmed in reporting by Jahphix Television (JTV) and government releases. Chief Marine Accident Investigator Jerome Padmore is calling on operators, particularly bareboat charter crews, to improve passage planning, reduce reliance on electronic navigation and take stronger safety precautions as the charter season intensifies.
The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA) has recorded 10 vessel-grounding incidents in Virgin Islands waters between February and December 2025, including four incidents between October and December, the authority confirmed in government releases and in reporting by Jahphix Television (JTV).
Chief Marine Accident Investigator Jerome Padmore, based in the Premier’s Office, described the number as "significant" and said it is particularly worrying as the busy marine tourism season begins. In comments carried by JTV and government statements, Padmore urged vessel owners and operators to heighten vigilance and reinforce strict situational and navigational awareness when operating in local waters.
MSIRA’s review found most of the recorded groundings involved bareboat charter catamarans, though each incident had different circumstances. Investigators identified recurring contributing factors that include lapses in concentration, misinterpretation of navigation tools, inadequate passage planning, incorrect assessment of shallow areas and an over-reliance on electronic charts and systems without cross-checking traditional methods.
JTV’s report echoed the authority’s findings and highlighted reduced situational awareness and excessive dependence on electronic navigation as common threads. Padmore stressed that most groundings are preventable and typically stem from human error rather than mechanical failure or unforeseeable hazards.
He warned that the Virgin Islands’ complex geography — islands, cays, reefs, shoals and submerged rock — combined with changing tides and weather, demands constant attention and careful passage planning. MSIRA and government releases also warned about serious environmental and economic consequences.
Groundings can damage coral reefs, seagrass beds and other marine habitats; even a single incident can cause long-term ecosystem harm and require costly restoration. For residents and businesses that depend on tourism, fisheries and boating services, these impacts translate to lost income and higher recovery costs.
To reduce incidents, MSIRA urged charter crews, private owners and commercial operators to reaffirm their commitment to safe navigation. Recommendations — drawn from MSIRA, JTV reporting and other government guidance — include reviewing bareboat charter qualification criteria and pre-charter vetting, providing thorough briefings to charter crews and captains, consulting the Cruising Guide of the Virgin Islands and local charts before departure, following designated channels and marked routes, continuously monitoring water depth, obeying navigational buoys, and promptly reporting any hazards.
Authorities reminded operators that the Virgin Islands Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2020 require reporting all marine accidents, including groundings, to MSIRA within 24 hours. The government release reiterated MSIRA’s investigatory role under the Premier’s Office and noted its work follows the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2020 and the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code, with investigations focused on safety improvements rather than assigning blame.
The warnings come as the charter industry reports a surge in activity: BVI News said about 90 charter yachts re-registered to operate in the British Virgin Islands for the 2025-2026 season, bringing an estimated US$13.9 million in direct economic activity. Social media users have also raised concerns about unqualified captains on chartered vessels — a problem MSIRA’s call for stricter vetting aims to address.
With more boats expected in local waters, authorities are urging renewed training, disciplined navigation and shared responsibility to protect lives, livelihoods and the territory’s fragile marine ecosystems.
Primary source: VINO