Investigation into fishing vessel fatal fall overboard (Duplicated)
The United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued its report into the fatality of a crewmember who fell overboard while the vessel was shooting a net.
A deckhand on the gill netter Eder Sands fell overboard while the vessel was shooting a net approximately 150 nautical miles west of Ireland. Despite an extensive search that involved other vessels and aircraft, the crew member was not found.
The MAIB investigation found:
The unwritten onboard process for shooting nets was unsafe and required crew to work at height without appropriate guard rails or a safety harness and tether to protect them.
The crew were habitually wearing their lifejackets with loose waist straps and it was probable that the deckhand slipped out of his lifejacket when he fell into the water.
The lifejackets used by the crew were compliant but unsuitable for the vessel’s operation because they were not fitted with a light, personal locator beacon, crotch strap or spray hood.
The MAIB report can be read at: Fall overboard from fishing vessel Eder Sands with loss of 1 life – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).