Alex Salmond in Solway Harvester tragedy tribute

Alex Salmond and Allan Bell lay wreaths at the Solway Harvester Memorial. Picture: Michael Craine

• Alex Salmond pays tribute to seven men killed in Solway Harverster accident in 2000

• Scallop dredger sank off the Isle of Man in severe weather conditions

During a visit to the island, the First Minister took part in a wreath-laying ceremony to remember the sinking and those who were killed.

The Solway Harvester had sailed from its home port at the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway the day before the sinking.

Those who died were the skipper Craig Mills, 29; his brother, Robin, 33; their cousin, David Mills, 18; Martin Milligan, 26; John Murphy, 22; David Lyons, 17; and Wesley Jolly, 17.

Two regular crew members - the mate and an ill deckhand - did not go on the fatal sailing and were replaced by Robin and David Mills.

Mr Salmond said: “On behalf of the people of Scotland, I’m grateful for this opportunity to pay tribute to the crew members of the Solway Harvester, seven men who lost their lives so tragically in this terrible accident.

“This was a massive loss for their families and the community of the Isle of Whithorn, a loss that is still being mourned 13 years later.”

Mr Salmond continued: “Having represented a fishing community for 25 years, I understand only too well the impact that such a tragedy has, not only on the families of those lost, but on the wider community.

“It is a painful reminder of the dangerous environment in which our fishermen work each and every day, and the brave efforts that our rescue services always make to help those in need.”

He described the memorial on the Isle of Man - which was created from a bollard used to tie up boats on the Isle of Whithorn - as a “lasting tribute” to those who died.

“It signifies the close bond between Scotland, the Isle of Man and all the fishing communities around the Irish Sea,” the First Minister said.

Mr Salmond was joined by the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man Allan Bell at the wreath-laying ceremony.

Mr Bell said the memorial was “a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of the crew of the Solway Harvester and a testament to the strong ties between Scotland and the Isle of Man”.

An official accident report published in 2006 said the boat’s skipper had sailed knowing he was lacking a key piece of equipment that might have averted the sinking.

Had the fish room bilge alarm sensor been working, Mr Mills would have been alerted to the rising bilge water, the report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) stated.

But with a bilge pump not working properly, the vessel’s fish room flooded and the scallop dredger sank in the bad weather with the loss of all seven crew.

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