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Pilot was unfit for work in fatal accident
The pilot Francisco Galia, who fell to his death on Jan 8, 2023, from a ladder while attempting to board the roro ferry 'Finnhawk' (IMO: 9207895), actually sailing as 'Bahia Cargo', should not have been passed fit for work, an accident investigation of the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found. He suffered a likely “cardiac event” while attempting to board the ferry from the 'Humber Saturn' in the approaches to the Humber Estuary. The man hit the deck of the 'Humber Saturn' before falling into the water and losing consciousness. He was quickly recovered onto the smaller ship’s semi-submerged man overboard recovery platform. This could not be raised, however, and the pilot remained semi-immersed in the cold water for more than 40 minutes until he could be transferred to a lifeboat. A Coastguard helicopter eventually took him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The MAIB said that “the seafarer’s medical certificate issued to the pilot six months before the accident should not have declared him fully fit for duty, given that he suffered from several chronic health conditions that might have affected his fitness to perform his role. “There was compelling pathological evidence that the pilot was at risk of a sudden cardiac event occurring at any time, and without warning, Although a scenario where the pilot accidentally lost his footing or grip on the pilot ladder could not be discounted, in purely pathological terms it is entirely possible that [the pilot] suffered a sudden cardiac arrhythmia which caused him to let go and enter the water” A postmortem examination noted that the pilot’s medical history included high cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease and lower back pain. His body mass index indicated that he was obese. The man’s head was uninjured in the fall, but his thoracic spine had been fractured. This indicated that his torso had probably absorbed much of the force when he landed on the pilot vessel. The probe also found that the recovery platform had defects that probably rendered it incapable of lifting, reducing the pilot’s chance of survival. The port authority’s “stop work” procedure was unsuccessful in preventing the pilot from working on the day of the accident, despite several interventions and concerns about his fitness being raised by colleagues. Associated British Ports has been recommended to review its risk assessment and, where necessary, update its pilots’ personal protective equipment to improve their survivability in cold water and align their safety training with industry guidance. Port and industry bodies have also been urged to issue guidance on the setting of occupational standards for marine pilots and the provision of suitable personal protective equipment. While the MAIB has been encouraged by the actions of the port and industry bodies to address these safety issues, he was strongly urging all harbour authorities with a pilotage service to learn the lessons of this accident and take action.
Pilot recovered dead after fall from ladders
The 'Humber Saturn' lost a man over board in pos 53 33 01 N, 000 09 09 E, on Jan 8, 2023, at 1.05 p.m. UTC, Jan 8 off 2.5 miles east of Spurn Point whilst undertaking pilot duties. The pilot Francisco Galia fell from a rope ladder as he tried to board the roro ferry 'Finnhawk' (IMO: 9207895), bound for the King George Dock in Hull, shortly after midday. As the pilot climbed the ladder, and at about half way, he lost his grip, falling backwards. It was believed he banged his head, and then entered the water. The remaining pilots and deck crew from the pilot launch were able to maintain sight of the casualty and within a minute had the casualty in a 'matesaver' pole. One of the remaining pilots entered the water to hold Franco's head clear of the water. Galia died in spite of the attempts, and the second pilot was treated for minor injuries, including mild hypothermia. A third man suffered an injury at his left hand. The MAIB has begun an investigation. A team of MAIB inspectors and technical staff were deployed to the accident site and started gathering evidence to understand the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
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