The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a report regarding the tragic death of a pilot during an attempt to board the cargo vessel Finnhawk from the pilot vessel Humber Saturn in the Humber Estuary on January 8, 2023. The pilot fell from a ladder, likely due to a cardiac event, striking the deck of Humber Saturn before plunging into the water and losing consciousness. Despite a swift recovery onto a semi-submerged platform, the pilot remained in cold water for over 40 minutes before being transferred to a lifeboat and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation highlighted several critical safety concerns. Firstly, the pilot’s medical certificate, issued six months prior, should not have deemed him fully fit for duty due to chronic health issues that could have impaired his performance. Additionally, the man overboard recovery platform on the pilot vessel had defects that rendered it ineffective during the incident, significantly reducing the pilot’s chances of survival.
Further issues arose from the port authority’s inability to enforce a ‘stop work’ procedure despite concerns raised by colleagues about the pilot’s fitness. Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure non-SOLAS vessels have alternative recovery methods for unconscious individuals. Associated British Ports has been advised to reassess its risk protocols and enhance pilots’ protective gear to improve survival rates in cold water.
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll, emphasized the inherent dangers of pilot transfers and urged harbor authorities to learn from this incident to enhance safety measures across training, equipment, medical standards, and emergency responses.
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