FISHING VESSEL SKIPPER PROSECUTED FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN A PROPER LOOKOUT

A fishing vessel skipper has been made to pay £925 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to failing to keep a proper lookout and leaving the wheelhouse unattended.

On Wednesday morning 7 June 2012 the fishing vessel Elegant II sailed from Campbeltown towards fishing grounds off the Kintyre Peninsula. At around 9.30, the vessel grounded approximately one mile south of Davaar Island.

The skipper, 58-year-old Ferguson Hughes, had previously reported problems with the automatic pilot and received spare parts in the form of bushes for the steering motor which he fitted while alongside in Campbeltown. After sailing the problem recurred and Mr. Hughes went to the engine room to adjust the new bushes. While he was doing this, the vessel grounded.

A mayday call was relayed and the fishing vessel Argent went to his assistance. The grounding occurred on a shallow shelving beach and as the tide was falling, the Argent too went aground. The weather was good and the Argent came off as the tide rose. However the Elegant II did not come off until the following tide and needed the assistance of a lifeboat to be pulled clear.

The skipper Mr. Hughes was charged with failing to keep a proper lookout and leaving the wheelhouse unattended. He pleaded guilty to both charges at Downpatrick Magistrates Court yesterday (8 May 2013) and was fined £850 plus £75 costs.

In summing up the magistrate gave credit to Mr Hughes for cooperating with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) during their investigation and for making an early plea.

Captain Bill Bennett, the MCA's Area Operations Manager (Survey and Inspection) for Northern Ireland, said:

"There was no excuse for leaving the wheelhouse unattended while the vessel was underway. He could have stopped the engines and anchored, or called one of the five crew members who were sleeping on board to come to the wheelhouse while he went to the engine room.

"This was a very serious incident which could have had much more serious consequences.”

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