Cargo ship was doomed to hit rocks in Minch after series of mistakes
3 June 2021
A catalogue to errors led to a cargo ship crashing onto a reef off Skye a probe has found.
The captain had plotted a course over two grounding hazards and an urgent radio warning from a fishing trawler was ignored.
Bulkcarrier, MV Kaami, ran aground on Sgeir Graidach shoal in rough seas and strong winds in the Little Minch in March last year.
Movement of the vessel on the reef was so violent the crew -
They were safely evacuated by coastguard helicopter and the vessel refloated by salvors on 4 May.
No injuries or serious pollution was reported but Kaami was declared a constructive total loss and was later scrapped.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found the Kaami departed Drogheda in Ireland without a complete and checked voyage plan after loading a cargo of fuel pellets for Sweden.
No calculation of the vessel’s clearance under her keel was taken so wrong safety thresholds were applied by the electronic chart system. Checks of the course were not conducted and the electronic chart route safety check was not carried out.
The captain did not follow the recommended route up the Minch instead relying on previous experience of navigating the Little Minch.
The danger of Sgeir Graidach shoal was not identified by the master or first mate in advance.
Nor was it realised immediately before the crash by the first mate on watch even after a verbal radio warning from a local fishing boat.
He also failed to appreciated the significance of a warning buoy
MFV Ocean Harvest’s watchkeeper emphasised the danger in a radio call over the airwaves, which if it had been understood provided sufficient time to take avoiding action.
However, the first mate was intent to follow the planned track, believing it was safe to do so as it had been planned by the master, which contributed to him misinterpreting the radio message as referring to the Shiant Islands some seven miles ahead said the investigation report.
It is “probable” that the first mate was tired on watch having had only three hours sleep after working long hours on cargo loading before sailing. The lookout on the bridge was not given “clear expectations” of his role.
Recommendations have been made to the ship’s operators, Misje Rederi, to review the number of watchkeepers on its vessels with the aim of minimising the hazards associated with fatigue and to improve safety guidance over electronic charts and of bridge lookouts
