Two deckhands went overboard from potting vessel Weston Bay (GY123) off Spurn Head resulting one fatality, an investigation by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found.
The MAIB also released a safety flyer with the investigation report following the incident.
What happened
At about 0820 on 22 May 2024, two deckhands went overboard during deployment of the fishing gear from the UK registered potting vessel Weston Bay while the vessel was shooting its pots approximately 12 nautical miles south-east of Spurn Head, England. The three remaining crew were able to recover one deckhand on board, but their efforts to recover the other deckhand, James (Jimmy) Haughey, were unsuccessful. He was recovered by another vessel about 40 minutes after entering the water; he was not breathing and, despite emergency first aid efforts, could not be resuscitated. The deceased deckhand’s personal flotation device became separated from him during the recovery efforts.
The investigation found that the two deckhands entered the water following an incident while manually downstacking a string of shooting pots. The first deckhand was struck, knocked onto the deck and taken overboard by the next pot in the sequence; a second deckhand entered the water as he went to assist.
The investigation established that the method of shooting pots on Weston Bay did not ensure the physical separation of the gear from the crew, and the vessel’s risk assessments did not identify or mitigate critical hazards. The man overboard recovery system was in poor condition and was unsuitable for the recovery of an unconscious person. It was also found that regular drills were not conducted on board, and safety equipment had not been inspected and maintained.
Since the accident, Weston Bay’s owner, Fastline Shellfish Limited, has revised and adapted the man overboard recovery system for its vessels and implemented measures to ensure crew wear their working personal flotation devices and conduct regular manoverboard drills with a focus on the recovery of an unconscious person.
Safety issues
- there was no separation from the pots for the crew working the stack when deploying the gear, which put them at risk of entanglement, harm and injury.
- the risks of going overboard after interaction with the gear had not been fully assessed or mitigated.
- the crew were unprepared for the emergency as they had not practised emergency manoverboard drills.
- the emergency man overboard recovery equipment on board was not effective for the recovery of an unconscious person from the water.
Recommendations
Seafish has been recommended to:
Review its Basic Health and Safety and Safety Awareness and Risk Assessment course content and develop a safety management module for its Under 16.5m Skipper’s Certificate (Restricted) and Under 16.5m Skipper’s Certificate (Unrestricted) courses.
Fastline Shellfish Limited has been recommended to:
Develop a safety management system that aligns with the principles outlined in Maritime and Coastguard Agency guidance. The company has also been recommended to develop a system of shooting pots that provides physical separation from the gear for the crew.
Download the full report: MAIB 9-2026 - Weston Bay