MAIB reports on two fatal accidents on fishing vessels published


A few weeks ago, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published two reports within 24 hours of each other. Both reports related to fishing vessels which had capsized leading to the loss of 5 lives. Both reports seem to bear a remarkable similarity about modifications made to the vessels which ultimately caused the accidents to occur. These cases affecting fishing vessels are certainly not the first by any means to hit the news headlines. This is yet another wake up call for the fishing industry and those involved in inspecting such vessels to heed.


Case 1 Capsize and sinking of whelk potter Nicola Faith with loss of 3 lives


On 27 January 2021, the whelk potter Nicola Faith capsized and sank 1.9 miles north of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales with the loss of its three crew members. The vessel had been extensively modified during its life which had significantly reduced its margin of positive stability. On the day of the accident the Nicola Faith had been loaded with catch and retrieved strings of pots to the point of instability, which resulted in the capsize and


subsequently sinking of the vessel. Nicola Faith had not been fitted with a mandatory emergency beacon to alert to the capsize, and it was not reported as overdue until 1000 the next day. Following its salvage by the MAIB, a thorough inspection of the vessel was carried out to determine possible modes of capsize and a full assessment of its stability was undertaken.


Safety issues


– Nicola Faith was operated in an unsafe manner and was loaded with a combination of catch and retrieved fishing gear to the point of instability


– a mandatory Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was not fitted to the vessel and the crew were not equipped with personal locator beacons


– Nicola Faith was found to have been extensively modified; these modifications had eroded its margin of positive stability


– Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors had noted some of the modifications, however, the guidance concerning modifications that would have triggered a stability assessment was not sufficiently clear


Whelk potter Nicola Faith


– although available on board, the crew did not routinely wear personal flotation devices


Recommendations


Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to (2022/125) amend the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall, to revise the wording and refer to a load limit rather than a catch limit, and to (2022/126) review and enhance the guidance to surveyors to clarify what level of modification should trigger further investigation into a vessel’s stability.


A recommendation (2022/127) has also been made to Nicola Faith’s registered owner, The Big Ship Limited, to ensure that a written agreement is in place to clearly identify the organisation or person responsible for the operation of any vessels it may own.


Download the full report at https://bit.ly/3HMDaX8.


The Report • September 2022 • Issue 101 | 23


Safety Briefings


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128