STARLIGHT RAYS

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Skipper fined for death of crew member

The skipper of the "Skarlett Rays" has been fined £20,000 after one of his crew inhaled dangerous fumes and died. James Thores pleaded guilty to the charge following the death of ship’s engineer Artis Sterkis near Peterhead in August 2011. Sterkis was pumping water out of the bow of the ship using a petrol-driven pump when a crewman assisting him became unwell and left the hold. When he returned, the crewman found Sterkis unconscious. He went to raise the alarm and returned to the hold before also collapsing unconscious. A rescue helicopter airlifted the crewmen to hospital, but Sterkis could not be saved. Thores pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations at a hearing on Oct 12, 2015, and was sentenced at Elgin Sheriff Court on Nov 5. Of Mr Thores had followed previous recommendations from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, this accident would not have occurred. The vessel was provided with two primary pumping systems either of which could have and should have been operational.

Report on death recommends improved safety standards

A crewman who collapsed on the "Starlight Rays" in August 2011 and never regained consciousness was poisoned by carbon monoxide, a report into his death has found. He and two other crew members were airlifted to hospital from the vessel which was on stand-by for the oil industry in the Devenick field, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, but one man died. The fisherman was trying to use a portable, petrol engine-driven pump to remove oily water from a compartment inside the boat's fish hold. The hold did not have mechanical ventilation and had little circulation of natural air, causing high levels of carbon monoxide to build up, a report by the Marine Accidents Investigations Branch found. The other two men were also overcome by the fumes as they tried to rescue their colleague but they recovered. The report said the accident demonstrated "inadequate consideration and control of hazardous work activities on board the 'Starlight Rays'". It said crewmen need to be more aware of the dangers of working in enclosed spaces, and has sent a safety flyer to the fishing industry. It recommended that the owner and skippers of the "Starlight Rays" improve safety standards onboard by making sure any portable engine-driven pumps are operated in accordance with guidance from the Maritime and Coastal Agency. They also decided that the crew needs to be educated, and supervised by the owners, to prevent them from adopting dangerous practices.

Man dies after fumes release in engine room

A 37-year-old man has died after being overcome by fumes aboard a fishing vessel in the North Sea, BBC reports. He was one of two men flown to Aberdeen from the Peterhead-registered Starlight Rays in an operation co-ordinated by Aberdeen coastguard. A third casualty was taken to Lerwick later after complaining of feeling unwell. The boat was performing stand-by duties for the oil industry in the Devenick field, 155 miles off Aberdeen. It is understood all three men were overcome by fumes in the engine room of the Starlight Rays.