AN OFFICIAL investigation into the grounding of a crab-fishing vessel in Lough Swilly last month has found that the skipper fell asleep shortly before the boat ran aground on rocks.
The preliminary investigation by the British Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) noted that the skipper and five crew had worked long hours during a six-day trip.
It also praised the skipper and crew for their professional response to the emergency.
The crew had spent at least 18 hours per day on deck and shared the night watches on the bridge to catch sufficient crab to make the trip commercially viable, the report on the grounding of the Niamh Áine notes.
All six on board were rescued by the Irish Coast Guard Sligo-based Sikorsky helicopter in the early hours of March 22nd last when the 18-metre steel crabber hit a steep cliff face near the mouth of Lough Swilly.
The skipper had taken the watch at 1am for the home trip, on a dark, clear, night with a slight sea running, the report said.
“The skipper sat in the wheelhouse chair, reset the watch alarm, which was located close to the chair, and soon after fell asleep,” it said. Some 50 minutes later the vessel was up on rocks on the lough’s eastern shore.
A Mayday was issued and the crew donned lifejackets and warm clothing, but the vessel’s position was too hazardous for the Lough Swilly lifeboat to make an approach. The helicopter crew was exposed to considerable risk in effecting the rescue at daylight, and all on board were flown to safety.
The report said the UK’s deputy chief inspector of marine accidents has written to the vessel’s owner, Patrick Friel of Buncrana, Co Donegal, “commending the professional manner in which the skipper and crew responded to the accident, particularly with regard to the skipper’s calm and clear communications with the Coast Guard and rescue helicopter during the rescue”. It noted the “inevitable effects of fatigue in crews working very long days in order to remain profitable in difficult commercial conditions”, and recommended the bridge watch alarm be relocated to ensure it is out of reach of the wheelhouse chair. This means a watchkeeper has to stand up to cancel it.
The vessel is a “total loss” and a wreck removal order is expected to be issued shortly by Donegal County Council.
Mr Friel’s brother lost a fishing boat in similar circumstances on the other side of the lough a year ago.
The 15-metre Horizon had put to sea from Rathmullan, Co Donegal, in bad weather and the watchkeeper had left to make a cup of tea when the vessel ran up on rocks.
