The UK MAIB issued an investigation report on a man overboard fatality from the fishing vessel ‘Fram of Shieldaig’ off Scotland, in August 2018. Alcohol was likely a contributing factor in the man’s fall in the water. This was the fifth fatal person overboard accident investigated by the MAIB since October 2015.
The incident
At approximately 0800 on 7 August 2018, a deckhand from the fishing vessel Fram of Shieldaig, entered the water while manoeuvring a small tender alongside the moored fishing vessel in Loch Torridon, Scotland.
No-one witnessed the deckhand enter the water, but it is likely that he slipped or stumbled as he moved forward from his seated helm position in preparation for passing the tender’s painter to the fishing vessel’s skipper.
It is also likely that the deckhand was knocked unconscious by a bang to the head as he fell into the water. The deckhand subsequently drowned because he was not wearing a lifejacket and the skipper was unable to recover him from the water unaided.
The deckhand was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, and this probably contributed to his fall.
This was the fifth fatal person overboard accident investigated by the MAIB since October 2015 involving fishing vessels based in remote Scottish locations. In all these cases, lifejackets were not worn. Alcohol consumption was considered to be a contributing factor in 17 of 24 other fatal accidents between 1994 and 2016 involving fishermen boarding fishing vessels. Fram of Shieldaig’s owner has reviewed the vessel’s risk assessments and introduced a policy requiring his crews to wear lifejackets at all times while working on deck and boarding and leaving the vessel.
Conclusions
- The deckhand drowned because he was not wearing a lifejacket when he fell into the water, and Fram of Shieldaig’s skipper was unable to recover him onboard.
- The deckhand probably fell overboard from the tender as he moved forward to secure it alongside the fishing vessel.
- It is likely that the deckhand struck his head as he entered the water.
- The deckhand either lost consciousness as a result of the bang to his head or through the effects of cold-water immersion.
- The deckhand’s chances of survival would have been significantly increased had he been wearing a lifejacket.
- Fram’s crew had not completed regular emergency drills, and the difficulty of recovering an unconscious person from the water had not been recognised.
- The skipper focused on recovering the deckhand from the water and omitted to broadcast a “Mayday”. This led to a 30-minute delay in the attendance of paramedics, but probably did not alter the tragic outcome of the accident.
- The deckhand was under the influence of alcohol and this almost certainly contributed to the accident.
Actions taken
The UK MAIB has issued a Safety Flyer to the Fishing Industry highlighting the lessons to be learned from this accident.
Fram of Shieldaig’s owner has:
- Purchased new compact 150N automatic inflation lifejackets and implemented a policy that crew must always wear them while working on deck, and while boarding and leaving the vessel.
- Ceased the practice of lone working in the tender.
Recommendations
Fram of Shieldaig’s owner is recommended to add an alcohol and drugs policy statement, similar to the one provided as an example by Seafish, to Fram of Shieldaig’s safety management folder, and ensure it is adhered to.
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