Ilfracombe Sea Safari Limited is committed to full transparency about the safety of our trips. This page sets out the facts of a serious injury to a passenger on the RIB Lundy Explorer at Ilfracombe on 7 June 2023, the findings of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), and every action we have taken in response.

Ilfracombe Sea Safari Limited has owned and operated this business since June 2024, after this incident took place. We had no involvement in the incident itself. The RIB involved, Lundy Explorer, is no longer in use by us. We are publishing this page so that anyone researching the incident can see it in full context, alongside every safety improvement we have made since taking over.

What happened

On 7 June 2023, a passenger was seriously injured aboard the sea safari rigid inflatable boat Lundy Explorer during a trip departing from Ilfracombe. The incident was investigated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB file ref: 1688/2023/MAIBUK), the UK government body responsible for investigating marine accidents. Following its investigation, the MAIB issued two safety recommendations to the company (references 2025/129 and 2025/130).

Our response to the MAIB recommendations

Recommendation 2025/129: Safety Management System

The MAIB recommended implementing a safety management system in line with the Passenger Safety on Small Commercial High Speed Craft & Experience Rides Voluntary Code of Practice. This has been fully implemented and includes:

  • Documented pre-departure operating procedures and clear guidance on what action to take if conditions change
  • A standard pre-departure passenger safety briefing given before every trip
  • Risk assessments that accurately reflect the specific hazards of high-speed RIB operations
  • Procedures for the safe allocation and use of jockey seats

This system is already in place and forms part of how we run every trip.

Recommendation 2025/130: Vibration monitoring sensors

The MAIB also recommended installing sensors to provide real-time measurement of the forces experienced in the forward section of the boat, in line with Marine Guidance Note 436 (M+F) Amendment 4 on whole body vibration.

We have researched the systems currently on the market and, at this stage, have chosen not to install one. We want to be open about why:

  • A sensor measures impact at its own fixed location, which can be very different from what individual passengers experience elsewhere in the boat
  • A “safe” reading does not guarantee comfort or safety for every passenger, as age, health, seating position and posture all affect how someone experiences the same conditions
  • Fixed limits cannot properly account for every boat, every sea state or every individual on board
  • A sudden, isolated wave can cause discomfort before any warning system reacts
  • Readings can be affected by mounting position, calibration, connections or equipment faults, which risks giving a false sense of security
  • Our skippers work in a busy stretch of water shared with a growing number of kayakers and paddleboarders. We want their full attention on the water and our passengers, not on a screen

Our view is that no monitor should ever replace a skilled skipper’s judgement, awareness of sea conditions and attentiveness to passenger wellbeing. We employ experienced skippers with genuine local knowledge of these waters. Before adopting this technology, we want to see an established, independently agreed industry standard for how such systems are calibrated, tested and interpreted, along with evidence of successful use by operators elsewhere in the country. We continue to monitor developments in this area.

How we keep passengers safe today

Every trip we run today operates under the safety management system described above. In practice, that means every passenger receives a full safety briefing before departure, every trip is subject to a proper risk assessment, and our skippers are trained to make judgement calls based on real conditions on the water, not just on the day of departure but throughout the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Was Ilfracombe Sea Safari responsible for the 2023 incident?

No. The incident happened under previous ownership in June 2023. Ilfracombe Sea Safari Limited has owned and run this business since June 2024 and had no involvement in the incident. The boat involved is no longer in our fleet. We are publishing our full response to the MAIB’s findings on this page for complete transparency.

What did the MAIB recommend?

The MAIB issued two recommendations: implementing a formal safety management system, and installing vibration monitoring sensors. Full detail on both, and our response to each, is set out above.

Has the safety management system been put in place?

Yes. It is already in place and includes pre-departure procedures, a standard passenger safety briefing, updated risk assessments and clear procedures for jockey seat use.

Why haven’t vibration sensors been installed?

We explain our reasoning in full above. In short, we are not yet satisfied that the current technology reliably reflects what individual passengers experience, and we want to see an established industry standard before adopting it.

Where can I read the full MAIB report?

The full MAIB report is publicly available on GOV.UK: read the full MAIB report (file reference 1688/2023/MAIBUK).

If you have any questions about safety on our trips, please get in touch with us directly. We are always happy to talk through how we operate.