A marine fishing company has been fined £50,000 over health and safety offences that led to a crewman’s death nearly five years ago.
On 17 August 2015, Annang Neurtey was lost at sea after he was struck by a wire on board the 20 metre trawler, Aquarius, owned by MB Aquarius. The boat had left Aberdeen Harbour just before 1am to return to fishing grounds.
The wire behind the boat became snagged on the seabed and a rope intended to stop the wire snapped, hitting the 47-year-old and propelling him overboard from the impact.
The incident was investigated by Police Scotland and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The investigation found that MB Aquarius had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks involved in the task of marking the trawl wire.
It had also failed to properly plan and supervise the task and ensure that there was a safe system of work in place.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court fined the firm £50,000 after it admitted contravening reg 5(1) of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 and ss 85 and 86 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
Alistair Duncan, head of the health and safety investigation unit at the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: "The company's failures led to the death of Annang Neurtey. His family and friends must live with the consequences of those failings.
"This sad incident should serve as a reminder to vessel operators and the fishing industry that they should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to the regulations and that failure to do so can have tragic consequences."
