A SEAMAN was crushed to death because of confusion over working practices on board a dredger, an inquest heard.

Sidney Mattingley, 59, described as a "very experienced and safety conscious seaman", died following an accident on the Arco Adur, as she was being navigated down the River Medway on February 25, 2003, the hearing at Gillingham ws told.

Shortly before the accident the ship had docked at Rochester to discharge her cargo.

This involved the lifting and rotation of a forward loading tower, which had the effect of raising the cable. But instead of the forward tower rotating, the one towards the rear of the ship had moved, causing a chute to crush Mr Mattingley against the side of the hatch.

After the accident, Mr Mattingley, who was from Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, had been flown to Maidstone Hospital by air ambulance, where he had died. A post mortem examination revealed severe liver damage and a broken spine.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death but said the second mate had received no training in the procedure which led to Mr Mattingley's death, and there had been a lack of communication between those on deck and the bridge.