BERYL BF 440

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Crew man died because of missing emergency drills

The crew of the "Beryl" did not know how to rescue a man who died after being swept overboard in rough seas, according to an investigation. Joshua Aryeetey was carried overboard by a net while working on the trawler about 20 miles west of the Shetland Islands on Feb 10, 2015. The 37-year-old Ghanaian was conscious, wearing a lifejacket and was quickly brought alongside the vessel but attempts by the five other crew men to get him onboard in rough seas were unsuccessful. Mr Aryeetey spent about 50 minutes in the water and was unresponsive when he was eventually pulled onto a rescue craft launched from a nearby offshore support vessel. He was then transferred to the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter, which was training in the area, and flown to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick where he was pronounced dead. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the accident happened because Mr Aryeetey was standing in an unsafe position on top of the net as he tried to release a float snagging it to a track. The official report also found that the "Beryl"’s crew had not completed a practical manoverboard drill during their time on board and they were unfamiliar with the manoverboard recovery system carried. A safety flyer has been issued to the industry detailing the accident and recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a number of fishing federations to ensure fishermen conduct practical emergency drills. A recommendation has also been made to "Beryl"’s owner, JCJM, to improve the overall safety of its crews and their ability to respond to emergencies. The crew of the "Beryl" was made up of two UK nationals, two Ghanaians, a Filipino and a Latvian, all of whom had completed the mandatory training required to serve on a UK registered vessel. The foreign workers had been employed by the vessel’s owners for several years and the boat had sailed from Scalloway on Feb 6. Mr Aryeetey was described as an experienced and well-respected deckhand and had worked on the "Beryl" for two years when the accident happened. He was due to leave the vessel in March 2015. The MAIB report said: “The accident occurred because the crewman was standing in an unsafe position. Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and the Sea Fish Industry Authority.

Man died after fall over board

A fast rescue boat of the supply vessel "Caledonian Victory" recovered the fisherman Joshua Aryeetey one hour after he fell overboard from the "Beryl" on Feb 10, 2015, but he died after he was airlifted to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick. The man, who is believed to be in his mid-40s, fell from the "Beryl" around 20 miles west of the islands. Poor weather conditions prevented his crewmates from rescuing him after he fell into the sea at around 9.30 a.m. The "Caledonian Victory" had been five miles away.