Report condemns ferry that sank on Loch Lomond

A PASSENGER boat from which five people were forced to leap as it sank in Loch Lomond was in a “poor condition”, with a catalogue of failures, according to an official report.

The ferry was crossing the loch near Ardlui when it sank. Picture: complimentary

The Vixen, a 6.5-metre steel-hulled ferry, sank on 19 September last year as it crossed the loch near Ardlui marina carrying six passengers and a skipper.

There were no injuries and no pollution caused by the sinking, but a Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Maib) report found failings in the condition of the boat and its operation.

Five of the six passengers put on life jackets and jumped out of the boat as it foundered 50 metres from shore. One passenger, who said she was a weak swimmer, remained on board with the skipper as the boat sank beneath them. They were dragged under, but managed to swim back to the surface. Some of the passengers swam ashore, while the others, and the skipper, were rescued by a nearby boat.

The Maib found that the weed hatch, a secured lid that allows access to the propeller to clean away any debris caught in the blades, had corroded, allowing water to flood in.

The Maib report said: “The Vixen was in poor condition. The weed hatch was not watertight. There was no specified limit for the number of passengers that could be carried safely.”