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Unattended Pumps Sink Trawler in North Sea
17 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Fishing boat sank in North Sea due to unattended pumps.
- Six crew members were successfully rescued from the vessel.
- A report cited rapid flooding causing catastrophic stability loss.
Six crew members aboard the Fraserburgh-registered trawler Odyssey were rescued after the vessel sank in the North Sea. The incident occurred last year, approximately 133 miles (214km) south east of Peterhead. Investigations revealed that the sinking was caused by deck wash pumps being left to run unattended.
According to a Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report, the pumps were operating while the crew was engaged in recovering fishing gear. The resulting inflow of water rapidly flooded a section of the vessel that had limited drainage capabilities.
This rapid flooding led to a "catastrophic loss of stability," ultimately causing the trawler to sink. Following the investigation, safety recommendations have been put forward to prevent similar incidents.
