Marine / MAIB says investigation into trawler sinking now complete
THE MARINE Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released an interim report on the sinking of the Shetland fishing trawler Opportune last year.
Its investigation into the incident is complete, and a draft report into the incident is now being prepared.
The investigation considered various aspects around the flooding and sinking including “probable flood sources, engine room bilge arrangements, flood control and seawater pipework inspection and maintenance”.
The 28-metre Opportune sank around 36 nautical miles north east of Lerwick in March of last year.
The eight crew members were airlifted to safety by coastguard helicopter after using liferafts.
The MAIB interim report said the vessel was on passage to Peterhead at the time of the incident.
At 4.45am the mate, who was on watch, responded to a bilge alarm and discovered extensive flooding in the engine room.
The report continued: “The mate called the skipper who, having assessed that the flood could not be controlled, instructed the crew to abandon ship.
“The crew donned immersion suits and launched the life rafts and the mate made a Mayday radio call.”
The crew abandoned the vessel at 5.10am, with the vessel sinking around 20 minutes later.
Shortly afterwards the crew were rescued uninjured from liferafts by UK and Norwegian coastguard helicopters.
The report said there were force six winds at the time and a two-metre swell.
In March a new Opportune arrived in Shetland to mark something of a fresh start for the crew.
Engineer Grant Irvine, who was on board when the previous Opportune sank, praised the work of the coastguard in the incident.
He told Shetland News that at the time he went into “autopilot” to make sure everyone on board was safe.
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