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AN official probe has found that a prawn trawler ran aground in County Down because her skipper was not monitoring the vessel’s passage.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have published their report into the grounding of the stern prawn trawler Karen at the entrance to Ardglass harbour in Northern Ireland at just before 6pm on January 3, this year.
The MAIB summary of the incident says that resulting damage to the vessel’s forefoot caused her to take water forward.
However, the collision bulkhead held and the skipper left the engine running ahead to reduce the risk of the vessel foundering. The crew donned their lifejackets and successfully launched the liferaft, but before they were forced to evacuate the vessel they were rescued by the Portaferry inshore lifeboat (ILB).
One crewman suffered minor bruising to his ribs. The vessel was refloated and manoeuvred alongside later that evening.
The MAIB say the investigation has determined that the skipper was not monitoring the vessel’s passage towards Ardglass harbour when the crew were engaged in processing the catch.
They add: “It is likely that the skipper was absent from the wheelhouse for some of that time. There was no watchkeeping alarm fitted in the wheelhouse and the crew were unqualified. Written risk assessments were inaccurate and incomplete.
“The owner has instructed the skippers of his vessels to employ only suitably qualified crew.
“However, recommendations have been made to the owner designed to improve safety standards within his fleet.”
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