The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has warned skippers of the potential dangers of derrick head quick-release mechanisms after the death of a deckhand on board a scallop dredger in October 2023.
The fatal injury occurred on board Honeybourne III in Newhaven, England when a chain link in the gear suspended from the raised port derrick failed. The gear fell without warning, striking a deckhand. A similar fatal incident occurred in 2021 on board the beam trawler Cornishman.
“This is the second death that the MAIB is investigating as a result of a chain comprising part of a quick-release system at the derrick head failing under load and allowing fishing gear to fall onto crew working on deck,” said Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents.
The investigation found that excessive wear which is difficult to spot can occur when these lifting arrangements are put under load.
The MAIB has issued safety recommendation (2024/101) urging the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to conduct an inspection campaign on board UK scallop dredgers and beam trawlers fitted with derrick head quick-release mechanisms that incorporate chain.
Similarly skippers, owners and operators are urged under recommendation (2024/102M) to undertake an urgent risk assessment of such gear.
“I am urging the owners and operators of beam and scallop trawlers to take note of the dangers highlighted in this safety bulletin, and to take immediate steps both to inspect their vessel’s quick-release arrangements and to make any changes necessary to the equipment or its operation to ensure the safety of crew working on deck,” said Moll.
“The chain-over-pin arrangement has recently resulted in two deaths and there is no room for a do-nothing option.”
