Safety warning about working in enclosed spaces after the loss of 1 life on a fishing vessel

Urgent bulletin issued after working in a refrigerated salt water tank resulted in a fatal accident on board fv Sunbeam (FR487) at Fraserburgh, Scotland.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 19 October 2018

• Vessel type: Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over, Merchant vessel under 100 gross tons, Fishing vessel, Recreational craft - sail and Recreational craft - power
• Report type: Safety bulletin
• Date of occurrence: 14 August 2018

Safety Bulletin 4/2018

MAIB safety bulletin 4-2018: Sunbeam

A full report will be published when the investigation is complete.

Safety issues

• working in enclosed spaces is potentially hazardous, procedures for entering and working in them should be robust, understood and utilised
• enclosed space rescue plans need to be in place on all vessels, risks must be understood and rescue plans practised
• all crew members have a responsibility for their own safety, this is particularly important in respect of lone working

Recommendation

Sunbeam’s owners are recommended (S2018/129) to conduct risk assessments specifically for entering and working in RSW tanks and provide safe operating procedures for its crew to follow and appropriate levels of safety equipment to use.

Related publications

An investigation report and safety flyer into the fatal enclosed space entry accident were published on 10 December 2020.

Published 19 October 2018