Working Conditions Aboard the Fv-Novo-Alborada

A tragic accident occurred aboard the 'Novo Alborada' on January 15, 2026, at approximately 10 a.m. while operating in the Great Sole fishing grounds, around 30 nautical miles southwest of Valentia Island, County Kerry. The incident was caused by the abrupt breakage of a rope or hawser, resulting in a severe whiplash effect that struck two crew members on deck. Unfortunately, this violent impact led to the death of a Moroccan fisherman despite the crew's attempts to revive him. Another crew member, hailing from Indonesia, sustained critical injuries that necessitated urgent medical evacuation. This operation was coordinated by Maritime Rescue in Dublin after the alarm was triggered via the Radio Medical Center. The Valentia Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was swiftly contacted from Madrid, prompting an international emergency response involving both air and sea assets. Rescuers faced significant challenges due to harsh weather conditions, including heavy swells and downpours creating towering waves reaching heights of six meters. Despite these obstacles, rescue teams successfully hoisted the injured Indonesian sailor onto an aircraft, and he was transported to Cork University Hospital, arriving after 2:00 p.m. The body of the deceased remains aboard the trawler, pending repatriation. The 'Novo Alborada' had set off just two days prior from Castletownbere. This recent incident marks the second fatality aboard the vessel in the last decade. According to the Permanent Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents, a previous fatal accident occurred on June 24, 2018, while the vessel was docked at Castletownbere for maintenance. During this incident, a crew member was killed after a failure during a heavy drag door repair operation. Despite urgent medical attention, the Sierra Leonean sailor succumbed to his injuries three days later, leading to an investigation citing inadequate supervision and safety measures. Furthermore, in 2023, another accident involving a crew member who fell overboard occurred 165 nautical miles southeast of the Isles of Scilly, where recovery efforts were subsequently launched, culminating in the vessel's arrival in Vigo for the removal of another deceased fisherman.

On February 15, 2023, a tragic event unfolded in the Atlantic Ocean when a 52-year-old fisherman from Ghana lost his life after falling overboard from the fishing trawler 'Novo Alborada.' This unfortunate incident occurred while the vessel was operating in the Gran Sol fishing grounds, approximately 165 miles from the Scilly Islands. The fisherman was engaged in his duties on the stern of the trawler when he accidentally went overboard. Search and recovery efforts successfully located his body, which was subsequently brought back aboard the vessel. Following the incident, the 'Novo Alborada' set course for Vigo, with an estimated time of arrival scheduled for February 17, carrying the deceased crew member on board.

The Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents (Ciaim) has released its findings regarding a tragic event that unfolded aboard the fishing vessel 'Novo Alborada' on June 24, 2018, in Castletownbere. The report details the circumstances surrounding the death of a crew member, aged 51, who suffered a critical injury due to an improper maneuver during the movement of trawl doors. Despite having three months of experience aboard this specific ship and extensive knowledge of similar vessels, the sailor was unable to survive the injuries sustained, passing away three days after the accident in a hospital. According to the investigation, the crew was in the process of moving the trawl doors from their stowed position at the stern to the deck for inspection around 8:40 a.m. During this operation, one crew member was struck by a component of the starboard door stowage system when it fell unexpectedly. The report identifies that the accident stemmed from the inappropriate handling of the equipment, specifically the mishandling of a lantheon which resulted in twisting and rubbing against the stowage system, combined with a windlass that lacked the proper retention capacity for the suspended door. Ciaim's findings assert that the incident was not due to any execution failures by the sailors responsible for unhooking the chains nor the individual managing the windlass. Instead, the sudden drop of the trawl door caused the components supporting it to whip around violently, colliding with the sailor’s chest and arms. Weighing approximately one ton each, the trawl doors needed to be retrieved from the bottom of the port after falling. In light of the findings, Ciaim offers critical safety recommendations. It emphasizes the skipper’s responsibility to ensure that operations involving the transfer of trawl doors adhere strictly to established and safe procedures. Specifically, the usage of the deck turnstile or any equipment that lacks braking capability or the ability to maintain a secure hold on the doors during movement is to be strictly prohibited. Furthermore, the report suggests that the prohibition of using such unregulated machinery be incorporated into the company’s occupational risk prevention strategy. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of diligence and adherence to safety protocols in maritime operations.