His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has today published the official accident investigation report into the fatality that occurred on board the MT Nisyros, whilst undertaking bunkering operations in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

On the afternoon of the 20 May 2025, a seafarer working on board the Gibraltar Registered tanker Nisyros was fatally injured whilst operating the port forward mooring winch and sadly died of multiple injuries.

The investigation concluded that:

• The composition of the forward mooring party was not in compliance with the requirements of the mooring manual.
• An officer was not assigned to the mooring station forward in order to maintain compliance with hours of work and rest.
• The seafarer was operating the winch at the same time as ensuring that the mooring rope was possibly correctly feeding and winding on to the mooring winch’s drum.
• Due to repetitive nature of the work undertaken, the crew may have become complacent
• It is possible that the mooring winch actuator lever had been incorrectly secured in the running position by using the safety clip or external device.
• At this time, the seafarer may have become entangled in the slack rope, in all likelihood by standing too close to the winch’s drum subsequently resulting in being dragged in feet first under the rotating drum.

The report makes a number of recommendations aimed at improving safety including reviewing the ports emergency response capabilities for emergency services to attend vessels at anchor with the aim of developing a sustainable and safe solution to restore an effective emergency medical response capability for all vessels within BGTW.

The full report, including all recommendations, can be accessed via the Office of the Marine Accident Investigation Compliance Officer website

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/uploads/documents/Maritime/Nisyros%20published%20report.pdf

The Marine Accident Investigation Compliance Officer, Neil Atkinson MNM, said: This tragic accident could have been avoided had the correct number of seafarers been stationed at the forward mooring station and that the correct procedures for mooring operations been followed. Furthermore, it is imperative that safety devices are not disabled or tampered with.”

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Investigations under the Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulation 2012 (‘the Regulations’) shall not be concerned with apportioning blame nor with determining civil or criminal liabilities.

The purpose of safety investigation into marine accidents is to reduce the risk of future casualties and incidents and reduce their serious consequences including loss of life, loss of ships and pollution of the marine environment.