MAN OVERBOARD FROM THE LONE-OPERATED CREEL FISHING VESSEL SEA EAGLE

Summary:

On 20  December 2025, the UK registered creel fishing vessel Sea Eagle was found unmanned after running aground on Inverbervie beach, Scotland. An extensive search and rescue operation was conducted. However, the skipper, who had been fishing alone, was not found and is presumed to have drowned after entering the water while the vessel was underway.

The investigation was unable to determine how the skipper entered the water. However, evidence indicated that he was working two strings of creels at the time, increasing the likelihood of interaction with the fishing gear leading to man overboard.

The accident also highlighted the hazards of lone fishing operations and the potential challenges of self-recovery following a man overboard event.

The key safety issues identified were:

• While the exact accident mechanism is unknown, there would have been little opportunity to reboard the vessel once a man overboard had occurred. The effects of cold water incapacitation and, potentially, not wearing a personal flotation device made it likely that the skipper drowned.

• Working multiple sets of creels stacked on one another created a greater likelihood of the skipper interacting with the gear, increasing the risk of entanglement during deployment.

• It is possible that the skipper was unaware of industry guidance regarding the single-handed operation risk mitigation.

Safety recommendations:

• As a result of the recurrence of similar findings in previous MAIB investigations, no new recommendations have been made. The safety issues identified are considered to be well understood and existing guidance remains directly applicable.

Image: MAIB

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