The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published its report on 23 January 2001 into an accident on the Wakil II southwest of St Bees Head, which injured the vessel's skipper on 10 April 2000.

SYNOPSIS
On 10 April 2000, the MAIB was notified of an accident on board the 9.88m fishing vessel Wakil II. An investigation began that day. The skipper/owner was operating the vessel alone, 3.5 miles southwest of St Bees Head. As he hauled in the fishing gear, he slipped and fell on to the trawl warp while it was being heaved in, and was then dragged into the winch.

Fortunately, the trapped skipper provided enough resistance to stop the small diesel engine that powered the winch. He was, nonetheless, trapped there for many hours before managing to free himself and raise the alarm. He was then transferred to hospital by the rescue services.

The skipper suffered facial, shoulder, and rib injuries, but eventually made a full recovery. The immediate cause of the accident was the skipper losing his footing on deck and falling on to the trawl warp while it was being heaved on to the winch. Contributory causes were not clearing the deck of hazards before hauling, his decision to place himself in immediate danger, the absence of a dead man's handle fitted to the winch control, and the lack of a risk assessment.

The MAIB recommends that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) advise fishermen who own and operate their vessels single-handedly to carry out a risk assessment. It also recommends that Wakil II's skipper/owner carries out a risk assessment and fits a dead man's handle to the winch control.

FINDINGS
1. It was unwise for the skipper to sail the vessel single-handedly.
2. The skipper did not tell anybody when he intended to return to port, contrary to the advice given in Single-Handed Operation.
3. No one was available to raise the alarm.
4. The hazards on deck were not cleared before hauling, contrary to the advice given in Fishermen and Safety.
5. The skipper put himself at risk unnecessarily.
6. The skipper did not remain at the winch controls, contrary to the advice given in Fishermen and Safety.
7. A dead man's handle fitted to the winch control would have prevented the accident.
8. A risk assessment, and the introduction of appropriate control measures, might have prevented the accident.

CAUSE
The cause of the accident was the skipper losing his footing on deck and falling on to the trawl warp while it was being heaved on to the winch.

CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES AND UNDERLYING FACTORS
1. The skipper's decision to operate the vessel single-handedly.
2. Not clearing the deck of hazards before hauling.
3. The skipper placing himself in immediate danger.
4. The absence of a dead man's handle fitted to the winch control.
5. The lack of a risk assessment.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is recommended to:
1. Consider advising fishermen who own and operate their vessels single-handedly to carry out a risk assessment.