Achi news desk-
After the accident it emerged that six of the passengers who were injured when the Pentland Ferries ferry ran aground on an uninhabited island off the north coast of Scotland are seeking compensation.
After an investigation, the MAIB said that the ship’s master “almost certainly” fell asleep 70 seconds before the accident allowing the ferry to turn towards land.
The MV Alfred, once described as the most environmentally friendly ferry in Scotland, had 84 passengers and 13 crew on board when it partially ran aground on the Isle of Swana, the northernmost of the two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orch Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland.
RNLI lifeboats were called to evacuate the £14m Vietnamese-built catamaran – with one person rushed to hospital with a broken shoulder.
Dozens were feared to have suffered mental trauma and physical injuries including cuts, sprains and soft tissue damage.
The ferry has since been introduced by Transport Scotland as an ’emergency boat’ from April, 2023 with Pentland Ferries operating the services on behalf of state-owned ferry company CalMac.
READ MORE: Six passengers sue over MV Alfred ferry accident
All crew are provided by Pentland Ferries who are responsible for providing service and operational, technical and safety management of the vessel, including maintenance, repair, overhaul and provision of crew throughout the charter period. It comes amid widespread disruption to services due to problems with ships discovered during the annual overhaul process.
The investigation into the accident found that Alfred was grounded because the master experienced a “temporary loss of consciousness” while guiding the ship very close to the shore.
When the master became aware of the vessel’s troubles, he was unable to prevent the vessel from hitting the rocks.
The MAIB said that the master’s sleep had gone unnoticed, and that he was not woken or warned because there was no surveillance of the bridge and the BNWAS (Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System) had been switched off.
The investigators also found that, although the vessel had been on the ground for over an hour, neither the crew nor the Pentland Ferries ERT (emergency response team) had attempted to obtain a nominal list of the people on board, their injuries, or whether they had been evacuated to the lifeboat. .
And the MAIB said that the number and severity of injuries suffered by Alfred’s passengers and crew almost certainly increased because they were not warned to brace for an impact before the ship landed at speed.
The impact of the grounding caused part of the galley range, catering equipment and other heavy items to break free from their mounts, risking injury to those on board.
Almost all of the vehicles on board the Alfred were apparently damaged by the impact of the base because they were not secured in accordance with the ship’s cargo protection manual.
Following the accident the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the UK Government’s official publicly funded agency responsible for maritime safety, issued a “major non-conformity because Pentland Ferries’ safety management procedures for bridge treatment and passageway planning are followed.
Pentland Ferries had revised procedures to improve passage planning procedures, bridge staffing and the use of the Bridge Watch Alarm System.
The MAIB said it had also improved the quality and detail of emergency drills and exercises and the emergency response check cards; secure vehicle deck; securing internal heavy objects and identifying passenger assembly areas.
The investigators said they had recommended that Pentland Ferries review its emergency response team procedures to ensure it captured passenger and casualty details after the accident.
Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said: “Many safety measures have been taken as a result of this accident and I am encouraged by the steps taken by Pentland Ferries to address the issues raised in this report However, I am encouraged by this accident offering a wider opportunity for lessons to be learned across the maritime industry.
“Master Alfred routinely operated very close to the coast, leaving very little margin for error when they found themselves in an unsafe position. No matter what kind of ship you use, it it is essential that a safe route plan is made and followed Always allow enough space at sea so that action can be taken in good time if things do not go as expected.
” On the afternoon of 5 July 2022, the master almost certainly fell asleep and let the ferry turn towards land. The crew should always be well rested when on duty.
“Finally, this case highlights the importance of managers assuring themselves that the plans and procedures they have put in place are actually being followed. If you have management oversight of a ship or maritime operation, ask yourself; do I know that our crews and our line staff are following our procedures, and are our plans fit for purpose in a real emergency situation?”
Pentland Ferries said it welcomed the inquiry’s report and was continuing to consider its content.
The managing director, Helen Inkster, said: “We adhere to the premise of the report, which is not to assign blame or liability, but rather to ensure that future accidents across the maritime industry are prevented.
“Although we will never be complacent, we are satisfied that all the steps that Pentland Ferries could take to ensure the safety of passengers have already been taken. We will always ensure that our boats have detailed procedural plans, the right people and rigorous training arrangements in place.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “CalMac engaged with Pentland Ferries to ensure that all necessary approvals and certifications were in place before committing to the charter period. We note that the report highlights the steps taken by Pentland Ferries to address the issues in the report.”
They said the foundation happened before CalMac joined the charter.
Before joining the charter, CalMac held a meeting with Pentland Ferries (PF) to understand their perspective and the steps they were taking to prevent this from happening again.
Transport Scotland said CalMac was satisfied that appropriate action was being taken.
He said Pentland Ferries sought the services of an independent third party which reviewed its procedures and identified a series of actions.
