Prawn Trawler Lost After Skipper Falls Asleep At Helm In Scotland; MAIB Reports

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its final report on the grounding and total loss of the prawn trawler Sustain (UL 45), which ran aground at the entrance to Loch Broom, Scotland, on 16 November 2023.

The accident took place around 7:46 p.m. as the vessel was returning to Ullapool after a day’s fishing west of the Summer Isles. The skipper was alone in the wheelhouse and fell asleep, causing the vessel to hit rocks at Rubha Camas a’ Mhaoraich.

The grounding breached the hull, and despite efforts by the crew, nearby fishing boats, and an all-weather lifeboat from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the vessel could not be refloated. By the end of November, Sustain was declared a constructive total loss.

The MAIB investigation revealed that the skipper had been severely fatigued. He had remained awake the entire night before the accident, working to fix a faulty deck wash pump. Once the repair was complete, he decided to sail early at around 2:30 a.m., leading to further lack of sleep.

As the vessel made its way back to Ullapool in the evening, the two other crew members were sorting the catch on deck while the skipper was keeping watch in the wheelhouse.

The skipper felt very tired and, concerned he might fall asleep, tried to stay awake by drinking coffee and opening the windows for fresh air, but these efforts did not help. About 15 minutes later, the skipper woke up to find that the vessel had already grounded.

The MAIB stated that fatigue played a major role in the accident. It stressed that the effects of sleep debt can be serious and lead to dangerous situations like this.

According to the report, fatigue from normal fishing schedules can cause poor decision-making and reduce a person’s ability to stay awake, especially during times when the body naturally wants to sleep.

Investigators also found that the risk of falling asleep on watch had been identified in the vessel’s risk assessments, but no steps were taken to prevent it.

No additional crew member was called to assist with the watch, and the vessel was not fitted with a watchkeeping alarm.

The report further stated that the skipper had not followed the working time rules set out in Merchant Shipping Notice 1884 (F), which includes the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 188 on working time in fishing. These regulations are designed to help fishing crews get enough rest to work safely.

Reference: MAIB

Source: Maritime Shipping News