Latest news with #MarineAccidentInvestigationBranch
STV News
10-07-2025
- STV News
Fisherman drowned after being trapped in rope and pulled overboard
A fisherman drowned after being pulled overboard by a rope, an investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found. Hugh MacLachlan was creel fishing on a vessel called Nista when he became trapped in the back rope of the gear he was shooting in the west of the Isle of Luing, near Oban. The incident took place around midday on December 13, 2023. He was pulled overboard and underwater by the deploying fishing gear and drowned. The 58-year-old's body was found entangled in a 'perfect knot', according to the report. The report said he would have been pulled along behind the vessel and would have been dragged underwater by the weight of the creels. The boat continued to motor away and was grounded three hours later on a shoal to the north of Belnahua. The report found that there was 'no effective means' for him to separate himself from the fishing gear or to raise the alarm. Mr MacLachlan was described as a career fisherman who was approaching retirement and fished alone four to five times per week. He had owned and operated Nista since February 2020 and had completed all mandatory training for commercial fishermen. The MAIB said there is a 'lack of awareness within the fishing sector' of potential hazards when using single-handed fishing vessels. Investigators wrote: 'The circumstances of this accident highlight the persistent and enduring hazard that the dangers of creel and potting operations continue to pose to the lives of fishermen.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Fisherman drowned after equipment pulled him overboard
A lone fisherman was dragged overboard by his equipment and drowned, a marine accident investigation has MacLachlan was creel fishing while near the Isle of Luing, off the Argyll coast, when the tragedy occurred on 13 December 2023. A report found the 58-year-old became entangled in a rope while releasing creels and was dragged through an opening at the back of his boat, Nista, into the sea. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said the accident showed that creel operations pose "persistent and enduring hazards" to the lives of fishermen. After Mr MacLachlan was pulled overboard, the unmanned vessel continued to motor away and grounded three hours later on a shoal to the north of report said he would have been pulled along behind the vessel and the weight of the creels would have dragged him underwaterThe skipper's body was later recovered entangled in what was described as a "perfect knot". There was no effective means for him to separate himself from the fishing gear or to raise any alarm from the water, meaning once he was pulled overboard he had "little chance of survival", the report found. The investigators wrote: "The circumstances of this accident highlight the persistent and enduring hazard that the dangers of creel and potting operations continue to pose to the lives of fishermen."The report made no specific recommendations, but said there was a general lack of awareness of the hazards when using single-handed fishing MacLachlan was a career fisherman approaching retirement, who fished single-handed four to five times a week. He was known to be safety conscious and to show concern for others at sea, the report found.
Rhyl Journal
22-06-2025
- Rhyl Journal
Bayesian yacht taken to Sicilian town for full investigation into sinking
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The vessel was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes, which set off from the fishing village Porticello at around 1.10pm local time. It was held in front of the crane as it moved. The vessel arrived in Termini Imerese, a town around 12 milies away at just after 3pm on Sunday. It will then be moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Salvage workers on site, not accompanying the vessel to port, are conducting a 'full sweep' of the seabed near Porticello for any potential debris, a project insider said. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Mr Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
South Wales Guardian
22-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Bayesian yacht taken to Sicilian town for full investigation into sinking
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The vessel was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes, which set off from the fishing village Porticello at around 1.10pm local time. It was held in front of the crane as it moved. The vessel arrived in Termini Imerese, a town around 12 milies away at just after 3pm on Sunday. It will then be moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Salvage workers on site, not accompanying the vessel to port, are conducting a 'full sweep' of the seabed near Porticello for any potential debris, a project insider said. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Mr Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
North Wales Chronicle
22-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Bayesian yacht taken to Sicilian town for full investigation into sinking
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The vessel was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes, which set off from the fishing village Porticello at around 1.10pm local time. It was held in front of the crane as it moved. The vessel arrived in Termini Imerese, a town around 12 milies away at just after 3pm on Sunday. It will then be moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Salvage workers on site, not accompanying the vessel to port, are conducting a 'full sweep' of the seabed near Porticello for any potential debris, a project insider said. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Mr Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
