Safety call over boat fire deaths

A report into a fire that killed three trawlermen has called for better safety for crew who sleep on boats in harbour.

A faulty heater or a smouldering cigarette were identified as the likely cause of the fire on the Vision II at Fraserburgh harbour last August.

A fire alarm had been disabled but its position meant it was unlikely to have woken the men even if it was working.

A fire door to the galley where the fire started was also hooked open and an escape hatch was seized up.

The prawn trawler Vision II, formerly known as Amethyst, was in harbour for repair work when the fire broke out on 1 August.

A security guard raised the alarm and more than 40 firefighters tackled the fire, but the bodies of three men were found on board.

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said Filipinos Ramilito Calipayan and Benjamin Potot, both 33, probably died sleeping on benches in the galley.

The body of Rimants Venckus, 50, from Latvia, was found in the wheelhouse. It is thought he may have collapsed while trying to escape.

Electric heater

The source of the fire was close to a recently-repaired electric fan heater mounted in the side of a storage locker in the galley.

The heater mechanism was not "boxed-in" inside the locker, meaning the air intakes could become blocked by loose items.

The report said component failure was common in such units although there was no direct evidence to show the heater caused the fire.

Another possibility was that Mr Potot, who was a smoker, left a cigarette burning, the investigators said.

The boat was fitted with a fire alarm system, designed for use at sea, which would alert a crew member in the wheelhouse.

The power to the alarm had been disconnected, possibly inadvertently because the boat had no electrical diagram.

But the report noted that even if the alarm had been working, the men in the living areas would have been unlikely to hear it.

"If crews are to live on board fishing vessels in port, it is essential that such vessels are fitted with fully functioning alarm and detection systems that provide the living quarters with early warning of a potential emergency," the report said.

Fire door

Once started, the fire became more intense because a self-closing mechanism on a fire door to the galley had been disconnected, and the door hooked open.

The investigators concluded Mr Venckus chose an escape route, via the wheelhouse, that was most affected by smoke and heat.

Had he chosen an alternative route, however, he would have discovered that an escape hatch was seized.

None of the dead crewmen had undergone a UK basic safety awareness course.

The investigators noted that increasing numbers of foreign workers choosing to sleep on board vessels in harbour meant existing safety rules may require an overhaul.

They recommended a review of fire alarm systems and fire protection measures such as fire doors, better training and emergency drills.

They also called for shipbuilders to consider the suitability and installation of fan heaters on fishing vessels.

Article created by Editor. (info@safetynetscotland.co.uk)