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Fisherman's leg got tangled in
rope - report
13.11.09
by Linda McGrory
A CRAB fisherman from Greencastle was lost overboard
off the Orkney Islands when one of his legs got
tangled in a rope linking a string of creels,
according to a report into the tragedy.
Mark Duffy, 22, from Upper Drumaweir, Greencastle,
was not wearing a life-jacket when he was dragged
into the sea while working on the Orkney-registered
crabbing vessel 'Noronya'. His body has never been
found.
A preliminary report published this week by the
British Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)
reveals that the accident happened after a broken
piece of rope was spliced to a rope linking a string
of crab creels. Mr Duffy, a single man, was one of
six crew fishing on board the 18m crabber, 13 miles
north west of Orkney, when the accident happened in
the early hours of October 9, last.
The report states: "The layout of the deck had been
considered carefully, with a hopper set into the
deck to store the rope away from the working area
and barriers to separate the crew from the rope as
it was shot away. |
"However, the spliced
part of the rope was left hanging over the safety
barrier to stop it from becoming tangled as the rest
of the rope paid out. Shortly after shooting away
the marker buoys and weight, a crewman began
toggling creels on to the rope.
"Three creels were shot, when the crewman's leg
became caught in the bight of the rope near the
spliced repair."
The report continues: "Despite the best efforts |
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of the crew, he was
dragged over the side. He was not wearing a
lifejacket and although there was an extensive
search and rescue operation, his body could not be
found."
MAIB inspectors have written to the owner and
skipper of the 'Noronya', recognising their attempts
to develop a safer system for shooting creels and
praising them for their "positive efforts". However,
they say the method used to repair the splice,
introduced a new hazard. As a result, the MAIB chief
inspector has advised the owner to reassess the
risks associated with repairing the backrope and
"develop a better method of making repairs and make
sure that crew follow this method". The MAIB has
also advised the owner to provide lifejackets and
encourage crew to use them when they are working
"where there is a risk that they could fall, or be
dragged into the water". The report also recommends
the modification of the procedure for marking the
position of the creels, so that the skipper can
monitor the crew when they are working with the
gear. The report also advises the Noronya owner to
"make sure that skippers manage their work so that
they and the crew can get adequate rest".
Meanwhile, the MAIB said that having considered all
the evidence "the chief inspector has decided that
there are no other safety issues to be learnt from
the accident which require further investigation and
publication of a report". |
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