Interim report into death on Manx registered bulk carrier

Bosun fell overboard on World Prize in Sweden

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published an initial report into a fatal accident aboard an Isle of Man registered bulk carrier 3.5 miles south-east of Ronnskar in Sweden in October last year.

A worker aboard the vessel World Prize lost his balance and fell overboard from the vessel's main deck whilst rigging the starboard pilot ladder in preparation to disembark two pilots.

The bosun struck the bottom platform of World Prize's accommodation ladder before falling into the sea.

The World Prize was leaving port when the incident occurred. The pilot vessel crew witnessed the man's fall and immediately turned to rescue him from the water.

Tragically though the bosun, who was seen lying face down in the sea, slipped beneath the surface. His body was eventually recovered by divers the following day.

The MAIB report, on behalf of the Isle of Man Ship Registry, concludes that the bosun and other members of the crew, had been working for an extended period within 2 metres of an unguarded deck edge, where a fall hazard of 13 metres existed.

The bosun was not wearing a restraint or fall arrest equipment, and was not tethered to the vessel.

A post mortem found his death was caused by drowning.