MAIB PUBLISHES REPORT INTO THE LOSS OF A FISHERMAN FROM THE FISHING VESSEL VAN DIJCK TO THE SOUTH-WEST OF GUERNSEY

5 Oct 2001 12:00 AM

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) today published its report into the loss overboard of a fisherman from the fishing vessel Van Dijck while fishing 30 miles south-west of Guernsey on 16 April 2001.

SYNOPSIS

This incident occurred just after midnight on 16 April 2001, and was reported to MAIB by the owners at 1000 that day.

Van Dijck, a scallop dredger, sailed from Brixham at 1030 on 14 April for the Channel Islands fishing grounds. Francis Sharpe, a 17-year-old trainee fisherman, had joined the vessel on sailing and had been paired with Mark, another deckhand, and the skipper on the 0800-1400 and 2000-0200 watch. The vessel arrived at the fishing grounds to the south-west of Guernsey at about 1800 the same day. The first shoot began at 1805. The weather during this initial period was moderate with relatively little ship movement. Francis was shown where to go, what to do etc, and how to sort out scallops from the debris dumped on deck before pushing/kicking the residue back overboard through the scuppers. These scuppers were fitted with removable centre-hinged flaps, which were usually wedged about three-quarters open using a stone.

During Francis''s first six hour fishing watch the gear was shot about four times. He was kept well clear of the moving gear. Given Francis''s inexperience, the skipper always came down to help him with the dredges on the port side, while Mark worked alone on the starboard side. This pattern of fishing continued over the next 24 hours or so, with about fourteen hauls carried out at fairly regular intervals. At 2335 on Sunday 15 April, the gear was again re-shot. Debris sorting started immediately, with Mark on the starboard side and Francis on the port. The skipper saw both deckhands working on deck at 2340, and again at midnight. Shortly afterwards, Mark became aware that he could no longer hear Francis working. Thinking he might be unwell, Mark went to look for him. Not finding him in the galley/mess room area, Mark told the skipper at 0005 that he could not find Francis. Both Mark and the skipper carried out further searches of the vessel, but found no trace of Francis. The position of Van Dijck at this time was 49°21.25''N, 003°09.10''W.

At 0015, the skipper broadcast a ''Pan Pan'' message. This was received by St Peter Port Radio (Guernsey), who were told that as soon as the gear was onboard, Van Dijck, together with Geeske, another of the company''s vessels which had been about half a mile behind, would be starting to search on a reciprocal course, allowing for wind and tide. At 0020, both vessels started the search. Weather conditions at this time were north-west force four to five with a slight sea. Other vessels in the area, the fishing vessels Centaur, Alison Louise, Maravana and the Russian tug Nafticas 3, also joined in the search. Despite a detailed air and sea search by the Guernsey lifeboat and aircraft from the voluntary Channel Islands Air Search organisation, Francis was not found. Both these searches were terminated at about 0936. Van Dijck together with Geeske continued searching until daylight faded, and at 2100 on 16 April the search was reluctantly called off. Van Dijck then returned to Brixham.

Subsequently, one scupper door was found to have been carefully removed by Francis and stored alongside the opening, probably shortly after the debris had been tipped on to the deck. No marks or signs of where Francis might have been lost overboard were found, and his loss remains unexplained. He was not suffering from depression or the affect of alcohol or drugs at the time of his disappearance.

RECOMMENDATIONS

McLeod Trawlers, of Brixham, South Devon is recommended to:

1. Ensure that all skippers employed on its vessels are aware of, and comply with, the Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations 1989 and the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Employment of Young Persons) Regulations 1998.

2. Consider fitting a locking device on removable scuppers to prevent un-authorised removal.

During the period immediately before this accident, the Fishing Industry and the Government had been engaged in discussions regarding safety training. These discussions tried to address the many concerns of the industry not only in relation to safety training for existing fishermen but also to potential new entrants. As this report concerns the loss of an inexperienced young lad, the following extracts emphasise with what, from April 1, 2001, all new entrants must comply before going to sea. Any loss of life is to be regretted, but doubly so when the person was so young.

GOVERNMENT FUNDED SAFETY COURSES FOR FISHERMEN

The Government has recently reviewed the Fishing Vessel safety equipment grant scheme and decided that training and education can be a more effective medium of saving lives than putting more equipment on board a vessel

They have therefore introduced a scheme funding free places for fishermen on safety training courses. These courses will be free and voluntary for an initial period of 12 months, starting from April 1, 2001. From April 2002 the courses remain free but are mandatory for a further period of 24 months.

Amongst the training courses, will be a number specifically designed for new entrants to the industry. This Safety Training for new entrants will consist of instruction in:

- Personal survival techniques - Fire prevention and fire fighting - Elementary first aid - Personal safety and social responsibility (basic health & safety training)

These four subjects will be covered in a one- day course approved by MCA.

To reflect problems encountered with drop out rates of new entrants to the fishing industry, there will be a requirement that all new entrants must attend the one-day Personal Survival Techniques course prior to going to sea for the first time. The other three safety training courses that make up the training package for new entrants must be completed within three months of the entrants'' start date.

A new entrant is defined as a person who for the first time is gainfully employed or engaged as a crewmember on a fishing vessel registered in the United Kingdom. This means that only those persons who are on a registered fishing vessel, and thus required to perform appropriate duties on board, are covered by the proposed regulations. It is important to note that there is no lower limit to the size of vessels to which the regulations apply and that they are applicable to fishermen serving in all capacities on all registered fishing vessels.

Sea Fish Industry will be providing these courses in their role as National Training Organisation via the group training Associations (GTA). Any enquiries about these courses and their availability should be directed at your local GTA.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000 DTLR website: http://www.dtlr.gov.uk