Report reveals factors leading to mishap that killed deckhand on fishing vessel near Isles of Scilly
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on its investigation into the fatal accident that occurred on the UK-registered beam trawler Cornishman off the Isles of Scilly in England on February 6, 2021.
On the said date, a deckhand on Cornishman was fatally injured when the port trawl beam, which had been hoisted to facilitate a repair to the fishing gear, fell and struck him.
It was found that a chain that was part of the trawl beam’s quick-release gear had failed, causing the beam to fall.
Safety issues
The MAIB found that risk assessments were not followed and stated mitigations were ineffective, placing the crew at risk while working under a suspended load.
The board added that the chain type was unsuited to marine operations, where the saltwater environment caused environmental cracking. The supplied chain had also been unsuccessfully tempered during manufacture, which resulted in a high level of hardness and low ductility.
The MAIB said the chain’s installation caused it to be led over a fixed pin, which introduced bending stresses to the chain links that were compromised due to corrosion and cracking.
Recommendations
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been recommended to: update the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (lifting operations and lifting equipment) Regulations 2006 guidance to state the training requirements and accreditation of competent persons carrying out lifting equipment inspections; and to update its training and guidance to surveyors to improve their ability to check compliance with these regulations during vessel inspections.
W Stevenson and Sons, the owner of Cornishman, has been recommended to ensure compliance with the lifting equipment regulations; review and update its risk assessments; confirm with chain suppliers and/or chain manufacturers before purchase that the selected chains are suitable for their intended use; and implement the Fishing Safety Management Code for its fleet.
Finally, Capital Group Fasing has been recommended to review and amend its chain quenching and tempering process and offer its customers a hardness test certificate for the lifting chains it manufactures.
