Owners and skipper fined after trawler gas death in Fraserburgh

The incident happened on the Sunbeam boat in August 2018

The owners and skipper of a fishing trawler have been fined following the death of a man who was overcome by gas on board.

William Ironside, 52, was one of five men who fell ill on the Sunbeam in Fraserburgh in August 2018.

At Peterhead Sheriff Court the owners, Sunbeam Limited, were fined £220,000 while skipper James Duthie was ordered to pay £7,500.

Duthie, 66, was also sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.

• Man died on fishing boat in Fraserburgh harbour due to tank gas

• William Ironside named as Fraserburgh fishing boat death man

In October 2018 the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said it was a "tragic accident" which nearly resulted in multiple fatalities.

Following the sentencing on Monday, Mr Ironside's family issued a statement through Police Scotland.

It read: "It remains extremely hard for us to come to terms with what happened to William, even after all this time.

"William was a very much-loved husband and father who will never be forgotten."

Det Insp Sam Buchan said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Ironside's family.

"I hope this goes some way to bring some sense of closure for them and importantly helps prevent other such incidents occurring in the future."

The MAIB later recommended risk assessments for work in refrigerated saltwater tanks

Mr Ironside, from Fraserburgh, was working in the vessel's tank, which was used for storing catch, when he collapsed.

He died a short time later.

Others who tried to rescue him became dizzy, confused and short of breath.

The MAIB report recommended risk assessments for work in refrigerated saltwater tanks.

Investigators found the level of oxygen at the bottom of the tank was less than 6%.

The normal level should have been 20.9% - and further tests showed the presence of a refrigerant gas.

The MAIB said it was likely that the gas leaked through seawater evaporators which had failed.

It is a toxic, tasteless and mostly odourless gas but, If it is deeply inhaled, it can cut off vital oxygen to blood cells and lungs.