A crew member of the 'Kingfisher' died near Wick on July 12 due to an ‘unidentified hazard’, an investigation of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has concluded. He drowned 30 nautical miles north-east of Wick, while the crew was engaged in manually shooting a string of creels The deckhand became entangled in a creel’s leg rope and was pulled overboard. His personal flotation device (PFD) inflated on immersion. Using the hauling winch, the 'Kingfisher'’s crew retrieved the backrope and recovered the submerged deckhand on board within seven minutes. Despite the efforts of the crew, members of a RNLI lifeboat, a Coastguard paramedic from a rescue helicopter and crew members of an attending wind farm guard vessel, he could not be revived and was declared deceased. The MAIB’s investigation following the death of the deckhand has concluded that the lifejacket he was wearing was “not suitable”. The safety bulletin issued states that he inadvertently threaded the creel toggle through his PFD’s safety loop while connecting the toggle to the eye of the leg rope. The PFD safety loop was a snagging hazard that had not been identified. It further revealed that the vessel’s onboard risk assessment had not identified the unsuitability of the lifejacket for the work being carried out. The MAIB has issued three recommendations for owners and crews of creel fishing boats regarding deck-working risk assessments. Hazards associated with shooting or recovering creels, such as risk of entrapment in a running backrope, should be fully mitigated. When provided, PFDs must be of the required standard and appropriate for the work undertaken. When new hazards are identified, the information must be shared among the crew as soon as possible and alternative PPE must be sourced as soon as possible.
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CG JOSEPH TEZANOS
The 'Joseph Tezanos' and the Dominican Republic Navy patrol boat 'Capella' rescued 20 migrants from a disabled vessel taking on water in the Atlantic on the night of Sep 2. The crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a suspect 20-foot migrant vessel, approximately 30 nautical miles northeast of Samana. The aircrew reported seeing the migrants signaling for assistance and bailing out water from the makeshift vessel. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Joseph Tezanos' and notified Dominican Republic Navy authorities, who directed the launch of the 'Capella' to the scene. Shortly thereafter, the 'Joseph Tezanos' arrived on scene, and the crew provided 18 life jackets to the migrants and assisted with the safe transfer of all 20 migrants, 18 men and two women, to the patrol boat. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3895374/coast-guard-dominican-republic-navy-rescue-20-migrants-from-sinking-vessel-in-a/
CABLE INNOVATOR
The 'Cable Innovator' is en route to Sikra to repair a damaged undersea fiber optic cable that has disrupted telecommunications and internet since Aug 29, 2024. The ship stopped at Victoria, British Columbia, on Sep 4 to load materials for the repair job. It should arrive by the end of the week. The Alaska telecom firm GCI has confirmed no other details about the incident – neither the location of the break nor how it may have occurred. GCI stated it could not be more specific about the incident until the 'Cable Innovator' has arrived on scene, and repairs are underway.
MANAHAU
Hopes of getting the 'Manahau' refloated from Westport's Carters Beach on Sep 5 at the midday high tide have come to nothing as the swell was too large. Before, the salvage team had made good progress overnight and was spending the day on the preparations. The 'Kurutai' had joined the 'MMA Vision' in Westport. A Blackhawk helicopter arrived about 12.30 p.m. to help connect a towline as required. When the salvage happened would depend on suitable conditions and preparations and precautions being completed to the satisfaction of the salvage master and Maritime New Zealand (MNZ). Safety was the salvage master's top priority in terms of deciding when to attempt to refloat the barge, which was being held on Carters Beach by its own buried anchors and seven five-tonne concrete blocks. High tides will begin to decrease from the weekend, meaning less water around the barge at high tide. Report with photo: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527153/manahau-barge-recovery-teams-still-preparing-refloat
LEROSEXPRES
On the morning of Aug 5, the Patmos Port Authority was informed by the master of the 'Leros Express' that, during the execution of the planned route Patmos-Arkioi-Agathonisi-Pythagorion, the port side main engine failed, The ferry returned under its own power to the port of Patmos, where it safely disembarked its 15 passengers. The Port Authority of Patmos initially prohibited the sailing of the ship, until the damage was repaired, After presenting a certificate of seaworthiness from the monitoring classificcation society, the ship sailed under its own power, without passengers, bound for the port of Lakki Lerou. Passengers who were going to travel to their next destinations were informed by the company.