Man overboard from fishing vessel Kingfisher (DH 110) with the loss of 1 life
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-11)

Location: Approximately 30 nautical miles east-north-east of Wick, Scotland.

Accident Investigation Report 12/2025

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

MAIB investigation report 12-2025: Kingfisher (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c152d97596dbfa052bfde5/2025-12-Kingfisher-Report.pdf)

Summary

On 12 July 2024, as the crew of the fishing vessel Kingfisher (DH 110) were engaged in manually shooting a string of creels, a deckhand became entangled in a creel’s leg rope and was pulled overboard. His personal flotation device (PFD) inflated on immersion, but he was pulled underwater by the weight of the fishing gear. Kingfisher’s crew retrieved the fishing gear and recovered the now submerged deckhand on board within 7 minutes, but the deckhand could not be revived.

Safety issues

the deckhand inadvertently threaded the creel toggle through his PFD’s safety loop while connecting the toggle to the eye of the leg rope.

the PFD’s safety loop was a snagging hazard that had not been identified.

the vessel’s onboard risk assessment had not identified the unsuitability of the lifejacket for the work being carried out.

Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kingfisher-report-and-safety-flyer-published#cistatement)

Recommendations

An urgent safety recommendation (S2024/129M) was made to the Home and Dry Safety Forum as part of this investigation to immediately communicate through its members the need for owners and crew of creel fishing boats to review their deck working risk assessments to ensure: full mitigation of hazards such as risk of entrapment in a running back rope; that PFDs meet the required standard and are appropriate for the work undertaken; and, when new hazards are identified, such as the risk of entanglement from loose lifting strops on PFDs, that the information is shared among crew and alternative personal protective equipment sourced as soon as possible.

Browse Brothers Fisheries Limited has been recommended to review the risk assessment guidance in Marine Guidance Note 588 (F) Amendment 2 to determine the compatibility of PFDs supplied with the vessel’s working areas to mitigate the risk of snagging, or damage to, PFDs so that they remain effective against the risk; to review its risk assessment methodology; and to ensure all crew have completed mandatory training.

Related publications

A safety flyer to the fishing industry (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/are-you-assessing-risk-before-during-and-after-modifications) was produced with this report, highlighting the importance of the risk assessment process when considering modifications to the working arrangement or safety equipment on board.

In 2024, a safety bulletin (https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/safety-warning-issued-following-a-man-overboard-from-potting-vessel-kingfisher-with-loss-of-1-life) was issued, urging owners and crew of creel fishing boats to review their deck working risk assessments.

MAIB Lifejackets: a review (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lifejackets-a-review), published November 2016.