Safety faults criticised as fishermen escape death

UP to 33 fisherman were lucky not to die in the space of just four days off the Irish coast after their vessels sank due to major safety faults.

On January 19, a fire broke out on board the 33-metre, UK-registered fishing vessel, Shark, which at the time was engaged in long-line fishing approximately 119km west-north-west of Malin Head.

Initial attempts by the 15 crew to fight the fire were hampered by a loss of fire-fighting water when electrical supplies were burnt through and because the emergency fire pump was defective. The captain tried to starve the fire of oxygen, but he was hampered by faulty ventilation isolating valves, and had to stuff rags around the ventilation terminals. The fire was extinguished when the Irish naval vessel, LE Eithne, arrived on scene and transferred a fire party.