Marine investigators raise tragic crab boat off the Western Isles

A CRAB boat that sank with the loss of three fishermen has been raised on the instructions of accident investigators.

The Louisa

The Louisa sank on 9 April as it lay at anchor in calm seas off Mingulay in the Western Isles.

The bodies of two crew members have been found. The skipper, Paul Alliston, is still missing and presumed dead.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said salvaging the boat would aid its investigation.

The crab boat is being taken to a dock on Clydebank.

The bodies of Chris Morrison, 27, from Harris, and Martin Johnstone, 29, from Halkirk, Caithness, were found following the sinking.

Skipper Paul Alliston, 42, from Lewis, remains missing despite a massive search. Only Lachlann Armstrong, 27, from Stornoway, Lewis, survived after swimming ashore.

As part of the probe, the Louisa has been raised and is being transported to Glasgow for further examination.

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch spokesman said: “Fishing vessel Louisa was raised on Sunday and is now on a barge to Glasgow, where we expect she will arrive on Tuesday. Preparations will then be made so that our inspectors can continue with their investigation.

“Our investigation aims to establish why Louisa sank and why lives were lost. A full and detailed report will be published at the end of our investigation.

“If we identify any safety issues during the investigation that require immediate action, the chief inspector of marine accidents will issue a safety bulletin or make recommendations as appropriate.”

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