Nicola Faith wreck donated to Cranfield University

In a government announcement, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it has donated the wreck of the fishing vessel Nicola Faith to Cranfield University. Students on the university's Fundamentals of Accident Investigation Course will use it to learn how marine accident investigations are carried out in practice. If you have ever wondered how investigators move from a wreck to a clear account of what happened, this is a strong example. Instead of learning only from slides and case notes, students will work with a real vessel linked to a real investigation.

That context comes with deep sadness. Nicola Faith capsized off the coast of Colwyn Bay, Wales, in 2021, and the three crew members - Ross Ballantine, Alan Minard and Carl McGrath - lost their lives. Any retelling has to start there, because this is not just a teaching prop. It is part of a tragedy. Using the vessel for training does not erase that loss. What it can do is help make sure the lessons do not stop with one report. That is often how safety improves: not because a disaster is pushed aside, but because it is studied carefully and remembered honestly.

According to the MAIB, investigators carried out an extensive search for Nicola Faith and salvaged the wreck when it was found. That recovery allowed a detailed inspection of the vessel and a full investigation into the circumstances that led to its loss. **Why this matters:** marine accident investigation depends on evidence, not guesswork. A recovered wreck can reveal damage patterns, equipment condition and other clues that help investigators test explanations against what is actually there.

The MAIB said it is also donating factual evidence gathered during the case so Cranfield can build a realistic fishing vessel capsize scenario for trainees. Students will not just be told that an accident happened; they will need to examine material, weigh possibilities and practise the careful reasoning that real investigations demand. For learners, this is where theory starts to make sense. You can read about procedure in a classroom, but it is harder and more useful to sort evidence, notice gaps and explain your conclusions clearly. That kind of practice helps future investigators avoid easy assumptions.

Nicola Faith will be renamed Pisces II at Cranfield, replacing the vessel Pisces, which has been used there for many years. The government announcement notes that the university and the MAIB have long-established links, which helps explain why this donation has been set up as a working teaching case rather than a simple display. **What it means:** good safety training is rarely abstract. When students can inspect a real vessel and work through a simulated capsize investigation, they learn that accident investigation is not drama for television. It is patient, methodical work aimed at preventing the next loss.

Rob Loder, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, said recovering Nicola Faith allowed the MAIB to inspect the vessel in detail and produce recommendations to improve safety and prevent a similar accident. He also acknowledged the tragedy behind the case and said he hopes the wreck can now serve as "a tool for learning". That is the wider public value here. Investigations are not only about explaining the past; they are also about making future work safer. For students, teachers and young readers, Nicola Faith shows how evidence, education and remembrance can sit together. We cannot change what happened off Colwyn Bay in 2021, but we can make sure the safety lessons keep being taught.