CORNISHMAN PZ512

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Latest news

MAIB published investigation report into fatal accident

An MAIB investigation into the death of a deckhand aboard the 'Cornishman' on Feb 66, 2021, has revealed a chain of critical safety failures. The crew member was struck and killed by a falling trawl beam on the trawler 44 nautical miles south-southwest of the Isles of Scilly. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch report details how the port trawl beam, which had been hoisted to allow the crew to repair the fishing gear, fell suddenly. A second deckhand was also struck and sustained minor injuries. The investigators uncovered other issues that created the conditions for this fatal accident. The vessel’s risk assessments were found not to be followed, and stated mitigations were ineffective, placing the crew at risk while working under a suspended load. The chain type was unsuited to marine operations, where the saltwater environment caused environmental cracking. The supplied chain had been unsuccessfully tempered during manufacture, which resulted in a high level of hardness and low ductility. Additionally, 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. In response to the findings, safety recommendations have been issued to the regulator, the vessel’s owner, and the chain’s manufacturer to prevent a recurrence of the accident. 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. It has also been advised to update its training and guidance to surveyors to improve their ability to check compliance with these regulations during vessel inspections. The vessel’s owner, W. Stevenson & Sons Limited 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. The Capital Group FASING S.A., Poland, the chain manufacturer, has been recommended to conduct a thorough review and amend its chain quenching and tempering process to ensure product quality.

Deadly accident on trawler

One crew member of the 'Cornishman - PZ 512' has died following an incident the a fishing boat 50 miles off St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on Feb 6, 2021. Another crew member was injured. Emergency services were called to the fishing boat which was 50 miles off St Mary's on Saturday. A lifeboat from St Mary's was called at 06:30 a.m. on Saturday and a Coastguard helicopter and the Penlee lifeboat attended when the vessel got nearer to Newlyn. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) launched an investigation after the ship was back in Newlyn, Cornwall at 6.45 p.m. The families of the crew involved have been informed.