LISTEN: Tragic sinking to be investigated with salvage operation
The boat the MV Louisa will be raised from the seabed for a more detailed analysis by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch
A crab boat which sunk with the loss of three lives - including 29-year-old Halkirk man Martin Johnstone - will be further investigated when the vessel is raised from the seabed.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch have already carried out an initial follow-up on the sinking of the MV Louisa from April. However they now need further details from the wreck itself to determine what went tragically wrong.
Robert Cranstone, inspector of accidents with the MAIB said: "Our process is to investigate the accident with the aim to preventing future accidents"
"We've deployed a team of inspectors to Stornoway and then to Barra to look at the wreck site and to interview witnesses"
"It became apparent that the vessel had sunk without a readily discernible reason"
"The only way we can try and find out what caused the vessel to sink is by salvaging it, followed by a thorough investigation of it"
"The Louisa would've been fitted with bilge alarms to detect the ingress of water"
"The level and sophistication of alarms tends to depend on the size of vessel"