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Fall overboard from the crab potting vessel Amadeus (TH7) with the loss of 1 life

Location: German Bight, North Sea.

From:
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Published
18 June 2026
Vessel type:
Fishing vessel
Report type:
Investigation report
Date of occurrence:
13 December 2023

Accident Investigation Report 13/2026

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

MAIB investigation report 13-2026: Amadeus

Amadeus

Summary

At about 0009 on 13 December 2023, a deckhand on the UK registered crab potting vessel Amadeus fell overboard while recovering crab pots in rough seas in the German Bight, North Sea. Despite immediate recovery attempts, the deckhand became unresponsive within minutes in cold water and could not be recovered. A major search and rescue operation was launched but was unsuccessful in locating the deckhand.

Safety issues

  • The pot hauling method required crew to lean over the vessel’s side in an unstable posture, creating a significant risk of falling overboard.

  • No effective fall prevention measures were in place during pot hauling operations.

  • The casualty was rapidly incapacitated in cold water and, without a personal flotation device, survivability was significantly reduced.

  • The vessel was unprepared for a man overboard emergency; drills had not been practised and recovery arrangements were not ready for immediate use.

  • The crew’s working pattern resulted in significant fatigue, and existing work and rest rules did not prevent this risk from becoming embedded in routine operations.

  • Safety management arrangements and regulatory assurance processes did not ensure that risks were effectively identified, controlled or monitored.

Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents

Recommendations

Safety recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to improve manual handling guidance, strengthen the management of fishermen’s working time and fatigue risk, extend fatigue protections more consistently to all fishermen, mandate proportionate safety management systems for fishing vessels of 15m length overall and above, and strengthen survey, inspection and enforcement processes.

Safety recommendations have also been made to the vessel’s operating company to improve man overboard preparedness, assess and reduce the manual handling risks associated with pot hauling, establish verifiable arrangements for managing crew work and rest hours, and implement a structured safety management system to support safe working practices on board.

Photograph credit

Image of Amadeus courtesy of Frits Olinga (Shipspotting.com).

Updates to this page

Published 18 June 2026
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