CAPSIZE AND FOUNDERING OF THE FISHING VESSEL ANGELENA SOUTH-EAST OF EXMOUTH

On 18 June 2021, the UK registered stern trawler Angelena capsized and sank about 8 nautical miles south-east of Exmouth while its fishing gear was being recovered by the lone skipper. The end of the net was full of sand, mud and fish and, once lifted clear of the water, the net swung to away from the vessel’s side and Angelena capsized. The skipper did not have time to raise the alarm before entering the water. The skipper was wearing a lifejacket fitted with a personal locator beacon and managed to swim to the vessel’s liferaft, which had floated free. The skipper activated the personal locator beacon once in the liferaft and was rescued unharmed by a nearby vessel.

The key safety issues identified were:

• Angelena was not required to meet any stability standard. Consequently, the skipper did not understand the stability performance of their own vessel.
• By operating the fishing vessel alone, the skipper could not maintain a safe navigational watch, operate the fishing gear and deal with any difficult situations.
• The liferaft was not secured such that it could automatically float free, inflate and break free.

Safety recommendations:

• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been recommended to require stability training before issuing certificates of competency under acquired rights as part of its implementation of the Fishing Training Regulations. The MCA has also been recommended to specify minimum safe crewing for the conduct of fishing operations on a vessel’s Fishing Vessel Certificate, and to align float-free definitions across its publications and regulations.
• The owner and skipper of Angelena has been recommended to complete the Seafish Advanced Stability Awareness course.

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