Fine for ship management company after tragic death of employee

A Greek ship management company has been prosecuted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after the tragic death of one of its employees.

Sky Mare Navigation Company was today fined after a court heard how crew member Alfred Ismaili was crushed to death by a falling hatch cover during a lifting operation onboard general cargo vessel SMN Explorer on February 1 2018 in Alexandra Dock, King’s Lynn.

The company pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006.

Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard this morning how Mr Ismaili died after he was crushed by a hatch cover that he was attempting to close.

In the absence of an operating procedure for opening and closing the heavy hatch cover, Mr Ismaili had attempted to climb up the inside of the cover to try and access the equipment needed to secure it to a crane.

The hatch cover fell and crushed Mr Ismaili, despite first aid being carried out at the scene and an ambulance attending, he was declared dead shortly afterwards.

The court head how there had been no reasonable risk assessment, and that the operation had not been properly planned. There was evidence of a poor safety culture, evidence of a tolerance of poor safety practice and clear evidence of a failure to take the necessary precautions with the actual lifting equipment.

Sky Mare Navigation Company was handed a fine of £120,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £23,973 this afternoon.

Judge Woollard told the court “If the company had taken the steps beforehand it would not have happened”.

MCA Lead Maritime Investigator, Dee Upshall said: “This tragedy was entirely avoidable. If a risk assessment had been carried out, or if Mr Ismaili had been given instruction or properly supervised as should have been the case, this death could have been prevented.

“We are committed to stopping dangerous practices, and to holding accountable those responsible.”


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