► Fisherman died after boat sank almost instantly
► Skipper believes boat suffered “catastrophic failure”
A fishing boat which sank rapidly off Harris with the death of a crewman, was flooded by sea water when a wooden plank “probably” dislodged from the hull, a marine accident investigator told an inquiry on Thursday.
Norman “Teddy” Macleod of Vatisker Park, Lewis, died in hospital after being immersed in 8ºC sea water for 20 minutes when the MFV Achieve floundered in February 2013.
Dr Gopinath Chandroth of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) interviewed witnesses and compiled a report into the tragedy at the time.
The boat was never recovered from the seabed so was never examined after the accident.
Giving evidence at a fatal accident inquiry in Stornoway, Dr Chandroth went over his report and said the creelboat sank “probably because a plank was sprung.”
The inquiry previously heard the boat experienced a heavy slam in seas off Gasker, off south west Harris.
As the vessel boat steamed towards Leverburgh her after end was going deeper into the water. Creels were shifted to try and balance the boat but the “vessel subsequently settled further down by the stern and the sea washed on to the deck,” said the report.
The report highlighted the bulkhead wall between the machinery space and fish hold was not watertight because of several openings for shaft, pipelines and cables.
The bilge pump was set to operate in automatic mode but there were no running lights or alarms to indicate that the pump was working so the crew was not alerted to the flooding.
Lawyer Clare Bone, representing the vessel’s skipper Donald Maclennan, of Lewis, said it was “curious” the forward engine compartment was dry despite the intake of water.
Dr Chandroth suggested the “boat was already trimmed by the stern.”
The weight of additional incoming water could have put her down by the stern even more, he suggested.
The inspector said of the “various possibilities,” he thought the cause was “probably a plank was sprung.” “But we cannot be certain,” he added.
During an earlier survey, a marine surveyor told the owner to fit a bilge alarm in the after fish hold to monitor water levels.
The skipper complied but the alarm was subsequently disconnected so the crew did not receive any warning of the flooding, said Dr Chandroth.
He told the inquiry, a working alarm could have given the crew “at least few more seconds or a even few more minutes.”
Dr Chandroth did not agree with Mr Maclennan’s solicitor that the flooding rapidly
worsened in the middle of the skipper’s eight second VHF radio call -
Ms Bone said Mr Maclennan didn’t believe sinking was imminent and aimed to “preserve the vessel as long as he could, so called for assistance.”
Dr Chandroth said: “I would not agree with that statement. He knew he had so little time.”
Ms Bone said: “During the course of that call for assistance it became a Mayday call,” because the vessel suddenly lurched to starboard and he had to escape from the flooding wheelhouse.
Dr Chandroth insisted: “I cannot change what is in the report, based on what various witnesses say in court.”
The inquiry previously heard the skipper did not activate the push-
No position was given and the coastguard watch operator misheard the vessel’s name as Accord which delayed the rescue operation.
Ms Bone said Norman Macleod would still have been in the sea for a minimum of 20 minutes even if the coastguard rescue helicopter flew directly to the scene immediately after the radio alert.
Dr Chandroth’s report praised the skipper for ensuring the boat had a working liferaft though not legally required to carry one.
It added: “Further, his timely action in releasing the liferaft, kicking it clear when it was about to be snagged in the mast, cutting it free as it was drawn towards the propeller and helping one of his crewmen into the raft, were all commendable.
“His diligence and presence of mind might have saved his own life and that of his crewman.”
The inquiry was adjourned to February
► Fisherman died after boat sank almost instantly
► Skipper believes boat suffered “catastrophic failure”
Burst plank “probable” cause of fatal fishing boat sinking
1 December 2014