Deaths at sea on rise in Scotland, says Marine Accident Investigation Branch report
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Scotland accounted for more than a third of deaths involving UK vessels last year, a new report has revealed.
Of the 23 fatalities, eight were in Scotland, three more north of the border than in 2018.
Among them was William Sutherland (51), who died in September last year when the Anna-Marie II capsized as it entered the mouth of Brora river.
His son Liam (26) was also on board but managed to make his way to shore and was not seriously injured in the incident.
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report in July said Mr Sutherland struck his head, which may have affected his ability to swim. He might have had more chance of surviving if he had been wearing a lifejacket.
Among the other victims was a lone lobster fisherman who died after being found face down in an Outer Hebridean sea loch in July 2019. He could not swim and was also not wearing a lifejacket.
Recently re-married Michael Monk (57) was fishing at Loch Carnan on South Uist less than a week after being discharged from hospital.
The annual fatality total compiled by the MAIB and released this week also includes three deaths of crew on UK boats abroad.
Only one of the 22 incidents resulted in a double fatality when two men were overcome by a high level of carbon monoxide gas and died shortly after entering the boat’s cabin on the River Ouse in York.
Five fishermen lost their lives in UK waters last year, the MAIB said.
In 2018 there were 15 deaths involving UK vessels from 14 incidents. Five of the deaths were in Scottish waters.
But two were from the crew of the fishing boat Nancy Glen which sank in Lower Loch Fyne. John Miller tried to save his crewmates Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk in vain.
The last year saw 1090 accidents reported, a reduction on 2018 when there were 1227.
There were also 22 investigations started, one fewer than the previous year.
In its Marine Accident Statistics report for 2019, the MAIB said it investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide, and other vessels in UK territorial waters.
"For the tenth successive year, no UK merchant vessels of 100 gross tons or more were lost," said Captain Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents.
"The overall accident rate for UK merchant vessels of 100gt or more was 74 casualties per 1000 vessels – compared to 64 per 1000 vessels in 2018 and 75 per 1000 vessels in 2017.
"No passengers lost their lives due to accidents involving UK merchant vessels of 100gt or more during 2019. However, three crew lost their lives on UK merchant vessels of 100gt or more: two fatalities occurred during self-mooring/unmooring operations; and, one fatality occurred as a result of being struck by a moving gantry crane on deck.
"Five commercial fishing vessels were recorded as lost in 2019, compared with eight in 2018 and six in 2017.
"The loss rate of fishing vessels remains low at 0.09 per cent of the fleet.
"Five commercial fishermen lost their lives during the year due to accidents – six in 2018, five in 2017 - though a shore-based engineer also lost his life in the engine room of a fishing vessel."
Related story:
Tributes pour in for fisherman in Brora tragedy
