THE BRITISH Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has appointed a team of experts to inquire into the grounding of a fishing vessel in Lough Swilly, Co Donegal, at the weekend.
The 18m Niamh Áineran up on rocks on Leenan headland in Lough Swilly early on Sunday morning, with six crew on board.
All six – and not five as initially reported – were winched off the vessel by the Sligo-based Sikorsky helicopter in a highly risky situation for the flight crew. The Lough Swilly offshore and inshore lifeboats had attempted to rescue the crew but the cliff area was inaccessible.
Although the vessel is Donegal-owned, it is registered in Britain and as such comes under the remit of British marine investigators. The MAIB would make no further comment on the nature of the inquiry yesterday, but it is understood the appointment of a team indicates the priority attached to the investigation.
The crab-fishing vessel has shifted since the grounding, and is posing a minor pollution risk. The vessel, which was returning from a trip in the early hours of Sunday morning, had an estimated three tonnes of diesel on board.
The Irish Coast Guard is working with the owner, Patrick Friel, on a salvage plan.
The rescue of the six fishermen was one of three operations in a 24-hour period for the Sligo-based air/sea rescue base, run by CHC Helicopters for the Irish Coast Guard. The Sligo-based Sikorsky S-61 rescued nine people in all in two separate call-outs, and was also deployed to check on pollution as a result of the Lough Swilly grounding.
