Poor risk assessment, series of unfortunate decisions, shortcomings in crisis management: these are the main conclusions of the report on the incident of the Simplon boat, which almost sank last March at the port of Cully.
The Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Léman (CGN) initially “underestimated” the risk of taking its vessel out in bad weather for a test run on March 28.
After the boat suffered engine damage, the “central error” was above all keeping it moored in Cully while the meteorologists announced the lifting of a strong Vaudaire (a wind from Lake Geneva), summarized Benoît Gaillard, president of the CGN, unveiling the investigation report to the press on Friday.
>> Read also: The “Simplon” emerges from the water at the CGN shipyard in Lausanne
Wrong decision-making
140 pages long and written by four independent experts, this report indicates that several CGN officials made erroneous decisions with serious consequences. Some people are particularly accused of “taking inconsiderate risks”.
Even if the responsibilities are shared, they essentially fall to the CGN operations director. It was therefore decided, “by mutual agreement”, that he should leave the company.
Among the other people associated with these bad decisions, the first captain is also singled out, but retains his position.
Renovation in sight
The circumstances of the accident having been clarified, the CGN now wishes to “move forward” with the Simplon, one of the flagships of its Belle Epoque fleet. The century-old steamer, as already announced, will sail again.
Benoît Gaillard announced on Friday that studies will be launched in early 2025 to assess the repairs to be undertaken on the boat which, in any case, should have been renovated. Neither the cost of the work nor the date of its return to the water are yet known.
>> Listen to the interview with Benoît Gaillard in Forum:
ats/mera
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