Person overboard from landing craft Forth Guardsman during mooring operation with loss of 1 life

Location: South of Jura, Scotland.

Accident Investigation Report 16/2011

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

ForthGuardsmanReport.pdf (2,758.46 kb)

Summary

At 1912 UTC on 13 March 2011, an able seaman working on board the Briggs Marine Contractors Limited landing craft Forth Guardsman, became trapped between a mooring wire and the ship’s rail during a mooring operation. The weight on the wire could not be released quickly enough, and the AB was pulled over the guardrail and into the sea: he was recovered, but died from his injuries.

Safety Issues

  • insufficient manpower had been assigned for the mooring operation
  • some risks had not been identified properly
  • seamanship practices on board were poor
  • emergency communication procedures were inadequate

Recommendations

BMC conducted its own safety investigation and as a result is undertaking a number of actions to prevent a reoccurrence. In light of these actions we have not made any recommendations.

This report was published on 8 September 2011.

Published 23 January 2015