41 injured in grounding when master fell asleep: report

The roll-on/roll-off ferry Alfred grounded on the east coast of Swona Island, Pentland Firth, in Scotland in July 2022, injuring passengers and crew and also damaging the vessel’s port bulbous bow.

Three issues were identified by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB): fatigue leading to ‘loss of awareness at a critical point in the vessel’s passage’; ‘passing too close to land’; and ‘lack of assurance that procedures were being followed’.

“On the afternoon of 5 July 2022, the master almost certainly fell asleep and allowed the ferry to swing towards land,” said Andrew Moll, chief inspector of Marine Accidents.

“Alfred’s master routinely operated very close to the coast, leaving little margin for error when they found themselves in an unsafe situation. Regardless of the type of vessel you are operating, it is critical that a safe passage plan is made and that it is followed.

“Crew should always be sufficiently well rested when coming on duty.”

The MAIB has recommended to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that a review should be made of the exemption given to domestic passenger vessels for carrying voyage data recorders.

Alfred was refloated following the incident and sailed under her own power back to shore, where she was withdrawn from service for repairs.