Chief Engineer Dies After Falling Down Ladder During Maintenance

The chief engineer of the Taiwanese fishing vessel 'Yong Sheng No. 2' tragically died after falling from a ladder while performing maintenance on a distribution panel in the engine room. The incident occurred last year when the vessel was anchored southeast of Hong Kong. The Maritime and Aviation Transport Investigation and Safety Board (Aviation Safety Council) released its investigation report, stating that the fall was due to the lack of fall protection measures and the engineer working in an unstable posture. The report indicated that the engineer did not conduct a risk assessment before commencing the repair. The council has recommended that the fishing company, He Jiu Fisheries Co., Ltd., strengthen its maintenance procedures and safety awareness for its fleet personnel, ensuring that necessary fall protection facilities are provided during equipment maintenance to safeguard crew members' safety. Additionally, recommendations were made to the Fisheries Agency of the Council of Agriculture to enhance the reporting mechanism for maritime accidents involving Taiwanese fishing vessels and to improve professional training for fishing vessel crew.