Person overboard from beam trawler Alma C with loss of 1 life

Location: 55 miles off Thyborøn, Denmark.

Accident Investigation Report 33/2001

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken, and recommendations:

almac.pdf (250.17 kb)

Summary

At about 0530 (UTC) on 25 January 2001, a crewman was thrown overboard from the UK registered beam trawler Alma C by the movement of the towing chain. When he was recovered back on board he was found to be dead.

Safety Issues

  • the beam shoes at each end of the beams were resting against the bulwarks, and were not secured. The beam shoe at the after end of the port beam was resting against the bulwark in such a way that it was top heavy and unstable
  • the searchlight was not working
  • risk assessments had not been carried out

Recommendations

A recommendation has been made to the owner to formalise a number of safety measures into the vessel’s risk assessment.

This report was published in August 2001.

Published 23 January 2015