Dredger Sinking Report Issues Safety Warning For Fishermen
The St Apollo got stuck on rocks after being caught in a squall in the Sound of Mull in Argyll and Bute in the early hours of August 24 last year.
Fishermen have been issued a safety reminder after a scallop-dredger ran aground and sank off Scotland's west coast.
The St Apollo got stuck on rocks after being caught in a squall in the Sound of Mull in Argyll and Bute in the early hours of August 24 last year.
The vessel's five crew were rescued by Oban RNLI lifeboat just before it sank.
An investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found the grounding was due to navigational error, equipment malfunction or both.
It said the boat was probably already north of its planned route when it turned unexpectedly, but this went unnoticed by the duty watchkeeper while the skipper was asleep in his bunk.
The body suggested that insufficient knowledge and experience left him unable to effectively meet the challenges he faced alone and at night in such confined waters''.
The MAIB also warned of the dangers of disrupted sleep, which can affect awareness of crews, and of over-reliance on plotter'' technology when monitoring a vessel's position.
A safety flyer issued by the MAIB said: A watch alarm helps to keep watchkeepers awake but low arousal is potentially just as hazardous as falling asleep.
Doubling-up the watch for 'choke points' in a passage or at night helps to mitigate this risk.
Navigating using plotters is widespread but this should not be done at the expense of keeping a proper lookout and using lights and buoys where they are available. Over-reliance on plotters, particularly when close to dangers, is potentially dangerous.
Electronic and mechanical failures can and do occur. In order to quickly identify, diagnose and react effectively, wheelhouse watchkeepers must have sufficient knowledge of the equipment to make best use of the little time that may be available to take the appropriate actions when an emergency occurs.''