Calls for gas alarms in small boats after crew tragedy

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has today published a report into the deaths of Mark Arries, 26, and Edward Ide, 21, who both succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning on the fishing boat Eshcol at Whitby on January 15.

The inquiry identified a series of failings which led to the men’s deaths, including that there were no carbon monoxide alarms fitted on the boat.

The MAIB confirmed recommendations had been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure that accommodation areas in all small fishing vessels were fitted with an alarm.

Father-of-two Mr Arries was from Blyth in Northumberland, while Mr Ide, who had a young son, was from Amble in Northumberland.

The pair had left the grill of a butane-fuelled gas cooker lit when they went to bed. The grill was being used to warm the wheelhouse and sleeping area, according to the MAIB’s report.

The inquiry concluded the grill’s metal gauze was holed and corroded causing extraordinarily high levels of carbon monoxide emissions, while the four-year-old cooker had probably never been serviced.