May 10, 2026 - 219 views
The wreck of the fishing vessel Nicola Faith — at the centre of one of the most devastating maritime tragedies ever to affect the North Wales coast — is set to begin a new chapter after being donated for training future accident investigators.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has confirmed the vessel has been donated to Cranfield University to help train students studying accident investigation on its Fundamentals of Accident Investigation Course.
The Nicola Faith tragedy shocked communities across Conwy County and beyond in January 2021 when the small fishing vessel capsized in rough seas off the North Wales coast.
A major multi-agency search operation was launched after the vessel failed to return to shore. Families, fellow fishermen and local residents anxiously followed updates as lifeboat crews, coastguard teams and rescue helicopters searched the waters in worsening winter conditions.
Days later, the vessel was discovered overturned on the seabed several miles off the coast. Tragically, all three crew members — Ross Ballantine, Alan Minard and Carl McGrath — lost their lives.
The disaster deeply affected coastal communities across North Wales, particularly among fishing and maritime circles where the men were well known and respected. Tributes poured in from across the region, with many describing the loss as heartbreaking for a close-knit community where generations of families have made their living from the sea.
In order to establish exactly what happened, the MAIB carried out an extensive search and recovery operation to salvage the wreckage of the Nicola Faith from the seabed. Investigators then conducted a detailed inspection of the vessel and gathered evidence to determine the circumstances leading to the capsize.
Now, after the completion of the investigation, the vessel is being given a new educational purpose.
The Nicola Faith will be renamed Pisces II and used by Cranfield University to create realistic accident investigation scenarios for trainee investigators. The university will also use factual evidence gathered during the real investigation to help students test their skills in simulated maritime incident inquiries.
Rob Loder, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, said recovering the vessel had been crucial in understanding what happened and identifying lessons that could improve future safety at sea.
He said: “Recovering Nicola Faith enabled the MAIB to conduct a detailed inspection of the vessel and a full investigation into the circumstances that led to its loss.
“The report made recommendations to improve safety and prevent a similar accident from occurring.
“While the circumstances that lead to the MAIB possessing Nicola Faith are deeply tragic, we are pleased to be able to donate it to Cranfield. I hope that it can now be put to further use enhancing future safety by becoming a tool for learning.”
Cranfield University will use the vessel to replace its long-serving training boat Pisces, giving future investigators hands-on experience examining a real-life maritime disaster in the hope of preventing similar tragedies in years to come.
