UK Fishing company Laura D Fishing Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a vessel was operated in a safe manner, relating to the loss in 2020 of Joanna C, which capsized five miles south of Shoreham.
The boat’s gear came fast and Joanna C’s poor stability meant that it was not able to right itself, and it sank rapidly. Of the three crew, only David Bickerstaff survived, while Adam Harper and Robert Morley lost their lives.
The fishing vessel had undergone an extensive refit the previous year, with the addition of a whaleback, extension of the wheelhouse and fitting raised bulwarks. These, along with other modifications, affected the stability of the vessel.
West Hampshire Magistrates Court heard that these extensive changes made to Joanna C were not approved by the MCA, and made it significantly non-compliant with the minimum standards of stability. The vessel continued commercial operations however, without considering the impact and risks of the modifications.
Laura D Fishing Ltd. was fined £36,000, and ordered to pay £69,284 in costs and a £190 surcharge.
‘This is a tragic reminder that modifications to vessels should be planned and their effects on the vessel’s stability properly investigated using appropriate professionals,’ said Mark Cam, Senior Investigator with the MCA’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team (RCIT).
‘Companies are responsible for providing a safe place of work for their employees wherever that may be. The court has found that Laura D Fishing Ltd. did not take all reasonable steps to operate the Joanna C in a safe manner and this led to the deaths of Adam and Robert.’
