The fishing vessel Svetac, with a captain and one crew member on board, was engaged in trawling operations in the waters surrounding the island of Vis, Croatia. After 36 hours of continuous fishing activity, the captain proceeded to the wheelhouse and began the return journey to the fishing port. At the same time, the crew member was planning to start with the final sorting of the last catch.
An hour later, as the vessel was nearing her destination, the skipper noticed that his crewmate was missing. He immediately notified the vessel owner, who then relayed the information to the relevant authorities and nearby vessels along the route recently taken by Svetac. At the same time, the captain turned the vessel around and retraced the same route in an effort to find the missing crew member. Shortly after the search and rescue operation was initiated, the lifeless body of the missing fisherman was recovered. The autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
The absence of eyewitnesses and other supporting evidence limited the ability to fully reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the fisherman’s fall into the sea. Therefore, the investigation focused on analyzing the available evidence and hypotheses, based on which it was concluded that the fall and subsequent drowning were most likely the result of the deceased fisherman’s health issues. These health issues were identified as the causal factor of the accident.
A contributing factor was the absence of a medical examination that would have resulted in a valid certificate of medical fitness for the crew member.
A safety lesson was issued highlighting the importance of regular medical fitness assessments for crew members working on fishing vessels.
Based on the results of the safety investigation into the marine casualty of the fishing vessel Svetac and following the analysis and conclusions of this report, the Agency for the Investigation of Accidents in Air, Maritime, and Railway Transport issues the following safety lesson:
✓ AIN05-SL-5/2025
Medical Fitness of Crew Members for Work on Fishing Vessels
Prolonged presence at sea, irregular working hours, and challenging conditions make fishing one of the most demanding offshore professions. Work often takes place at night and over extended periods of time, which further exhausts the body and increases the need for medical and physical readiness. Accordingly, individuals embarking as crew members on fishing vessels must be medically fit to cope with such challenges.
Regular medical examinations and possession of a valid medical fitness certificate are not a mere formality but a key mechanism for safeguarding life. The lack of such controls can lead to tragic consequences, especially when health risks are present.
Personal responsibility of each individual for their own health condition is of utmost importance, but at the same time, vessel owners and captains also play a significant role, as they should ensure that all crew members meet the legal and medical requirements for performing duties at sea.
In this sense, safety at sea begins ashore – through timely medical checks and responsible employment.
Recipients: This safety lesson is intended for all crew members on fishing vessels, the owners of such vessels, and officials authorized to supervise the professional and medical fitness of ship crew members.