Inquiry told crew were lifted to safety after skipper fell asleep at the wheel

THE skipper of a scallop dredger was asleep on watch in the wheelhouse when his vessel ran aground on an island in the Pentland Firth.

And his repeated attempts to refloat the vessel, which failed because the engine stalled, could have put the lives of crew at risk, a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has revealed.

The five-man-crew of the 19 metre scallop dredger, the Golden Promise were airlifted to safety in September last year after the vessel hit rocks on the island of Stroma in the Pentland Firth.

A report on the grounding by the MAIB states that the Oban-based Golden Promise, with the skipper on sole watch in the wheelhouse, had been on passage from Scrabster to the fishing grounds when the vessel ran aground on Stroma.

The report states: “The MAIB investigation established that the skipper, who had been alone on watch in the wheelhouse, had fallen asleep and failed to make an intended course alteration. He was probably fatigued by his normal working pattern, exacerbated by the prolonged period he had been awake prior to the accident.

“A watch alarm was fitted in the wheelhouse, but this was ineffective and probably was not functioning at the time of the accident.”

The MAIB inspectors add: “Although the skipper was nearing the end of his normal work period, he perceived that the mate was tired; the mate had been up for 24 hours with only a brief rest. He therefore decided to navigate the vessel through the Pentland Firth himself to allow the mate some time to rest. The wheelhouse was warm, with no forced ventilation; the windows and door were closed.”

The report continues: “The skipper’s initial instinct was to try to refloat Golden Promise but the main engine stalled.”

The MAIB has recommended the boat’s owners, John Mac- Alister (Oban) Ltd improve safety and ensure crew undergo proper safety training.