Man was pulled overboard by rope
Safety demand for boat’s owners
Published:
A MAN who vanished after falling from a fishing boat 50 miles west of Shetland was pulled into the sea by fishing equipment, a report ruled.
It is believed that the man, who died following an accident on the Cantara on November 24, had been standing in a loop of a rope that was launched overboard at around 4.30am.
His final moments are detailed in a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Maib), which was made public on Tuesday.
The vessel’s owners have now been advised to tighten up safety measures.
The boat’s crew saw the man, who is believed to be Spanish, land on his back in the freezing north Atlantic water, before disappearing from sight.
Members of Shetland Coastguard began an extensive search of the area half an hour later, but it was called off around noon the next day.
Maib deputy chief inspector Steve Clinch has written a strongly-worded letter to the vessel’s owner, Arrow Fisheries, advising extra safety checks in future.
He suggested a procedure to ensure ropes are kept clear of all crew members when operations are being carried out and also stressed the importance of checking and servicing life jackets. No one from Arrow Fisheries was available for comment.
