The claimant, an Indian national, was the chief engineer onboard the defendant’s ship Omega King, registered in the Marshall Islands. On 6 January 2008 the ship was at anchor off the coast of Wales in United Kingdom territorial waters. During the night the weather conditions deteriorated and the vessel began to drag her anchor. The master decided to weigh anchor. However, the locking pin on the chain stopper jammed, preventing the capstan from raising the anchor. The claimant was asked to inspect the pin to see whether the problem could be resolved. As the claimant was inspecting the pin a large wave broke over the bow, knocking the claimant against a nearby bollard. He was taken ashore for hospitalisation in Bristol and later in London.