Mark Arries, 26, and Edward Ide, 21, from Northumberland, UK, were found dead on the Eshcol, moored in Whitby harbour in January. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the incident confirmed the cause of death was carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and indicated this could have been avoided if they’d had an alarm fitted on the boat.
“We are not normally in the business of adding to the regulatory burden, but the minimal cost involved in fitting an alarm and the catastrophic consequences of CO poisoning has persuaded us that an obligation to fit a detector should be included in the new code of practice,” said Barrie Deas, chief executive, NFFO.
The MAIB report also highlighted six other cases since 2000 where seven people lost their lives due to CO poisoning. It also stated it receives a number of near misses each year.
By Rachael Doyle
