The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada released a report and safety recommendations following the death of a crewmember of the Suvak after a man fell overboard in the early morning of August 26, 2021.
Around 120 nautical miles northeast of Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, the crew memebrs of the Suvak were rounding out a two-week fishing trip. Before the vessel steamed back to port, two of the crew worked throughout the day and into the night of August 25.
Early in the morning the next day, having been awake for over 21 consecutive hours, the crew were setting nets when 24-year-old Emmanuel Maktar became entangled in a buoy line and pulled overboard. Maktar was pulled from the water, but despite “significant lifesaving efforts,” was later pronounced dead.
In investigating the man overboard that resulted in the death of Maktar, the TSB identified sleep-related fatigue as the primary factor in the accident. Having been awake for 21 consecutive hours with only a 1.75-hour break, the crew members experienced acute and chronic sleep disruption and circadian rhythm disruptions that resulted in a reduction of their cognitive abilities, which impacted their ability to remain vigilant against risks.
The TSB highlighted gaps in occupational health and safety for fishing vessels registered in the Canadian territories. While territorial governments consider Transport Canada (TC) to have jurisdiction over fishing vessels in their waters, TC claims that health and safety inspections of these vessels are outside of its purview.
In response to these gaps in safety on territory waters, the TSB recommended that Transport Canada and the Department of Employment and Social Development collaborate with the territorial governments to review their occupational health and safety oversight for fishing vessels registered within them.
“The Suvak investigation highlights ongoing concerns about safety management, fatigue management, and regulatory surveillance, three major systemic safety issues in the commercial fishing industry that are included on the TSB Watchlist,” said Kathy Fox, Chair of the TSB.
“Transport Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, and the territorial governments need to enhance occupational health and safety oversight for fishing vessels registered in the territories. This gap unnecessarily puts crews at risk of workplace safety hazards.”
