Dredger strikes moored yachts
The UKs Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is looking into why 14 yachts moored outside Medway Yacht Club in Kent were struck and badly damaged by a dredger passing too close by in the fog.
Luckily the Medway Yacht Club said there were no people on board the boats at the time.
The 98.55m suction dredger (3476gt) Arco Arun allegedly struck the vessels and then radioed Medway Vessel Traffic Services that contact had been made “with a couple of yachts”.
Its owner, Hanson Marine, told Maritime Journal that it is currently investigating the incident and an investigation has commenced with the MAIB.
David Weeks, spokesperson, Hanson Marine, told MJ: “We have been liaising closely with the yacht club and the yacht owners but we don’t have any further information as yet.”
When asked, he did point out that there was a pilot onboard at the time, but the conditions were foggy.
Medway Yacht Club meanwhile said that the yacht owners are making individual individual claims, but that eight yachts were dismasted. The damage is expected to run into hundreds of thousands British pounds.
Colin West, Vice Commodore, Medway Yacht Club, said to MJ: “There were no witnesses but one yacht owner was asleep on his yacht at te time (not one of the ones involved in the incident) and heard the incident. We are working with Peel Ports to investigate the incident, but the MAIB is also involved.”
The MAIB is not expected to file its report into the incident for a few months at least.
By Anne-Marie Causer
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