What Crew Members Say About Fv-Cap-Horn-1

On November 16, 2023, the BEAmer released a comprehensive report concerning a tragic incident that occurred aboard the longliner 'Cap Horn 1' on September 17, 2022, which resulted in the loss of the bosun's life. The vessel departed on August 17 from Pointe des Galets in Réunion, carrying a crew of 32 for a toothfish fishing mission in the French Antarctic Southern Territories (Taaf). Tragically, on September 17, at approximately 10 p.m., while positioned 50 nautical miles southwest of the Kerguelen Islands—1,800 miles south of Réunion—the 47-year-old bosun, who had been part of the vessel's crew since 2018 and embarked for this campaign on August 11, 2022, was swept overboard. This occurred as his foot became ensnared in a line loop during the launch of ropes attached to recovery balloons while the first line of the night was being spun. Despite immediate efforts to recover him during a man overboard maneuver, the bosun was found unconscious and, unfortunately, could not be revived despite onboard medical assistance. Following the incident, the 'Cap Horn 1' continued its voyage back to Réunion. The BEAmer identified key factors contributing to the accident, including the manual handling in low-light conditions during the rope launch and issues with the personal flotation device (PFD) worn by the bosun, which was improperly adjusted and inflated excessively, hindering his ability to turn onto his back once in the water. In light of these findings, the BEAmer has recommended collaborative discussions with the Taaf administration to enhance lighting at workstations during critical operations. Moreover, the protocol for longline spinning should be reviewed to minimize the need for manual intervention. In response to the incident, the Maritime Prevention Institute (IMP) has initiated a poster campaign aboard vessels to promote the proper use of PFDs.

On January 4, 2017, a medical emergency prompted the CROSS Réunion to coordinate the evacuation of a French crew member from the vessel 'Cap Horn 1' to Kerguelen Island. The crew member required urgent medical attention and was to be seen by the resident doctor at the Kerguelen base, which is equipped to handle emergencies. To facilitate this medical transfer, the stricken crew member was disembarked onto the research vessel 'La Curieuse.' The journey to the base is expected to take around twelve days, influenced by prevailing weather conditions. Additionally, in a precautionary measure, the deputy physician of the Port-aux-Français Base will accompany the crew member during the transfer, ensuring that he can be repatriated by the next available transport after providing medical assistance.