Council and ferry operator criticised in grounding investigation

Council and ferry operator criticised in grounding investigation


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

AN investigation by the Marine Casualty Investigations Board into a passenger ferry grounding on rocks near Roonagh Pier has found that the vessel’s operators and failed pier and navigational lighting contributed to the incident.
The ‘Pirate Queen’ passenger ferry hit the rocks on the evening of December 20, 2011 when approaching Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh. It was making a journey from Inishturk Island and had two passengers and three crew members on board,.
The report into the grounding, published yesterday (Monday) states that Mayo County Council had not fulfilled its obligation to have a full complement of working lights on the pier, and also concludes that there appears to have been an over-reliance on visual aids to navigation from the crew.
The ‘Pirate Queen’ grounded on rocks at the entrance of Roonagh Pier at 6.25pm on December 20, 2011 and sustained structural damage. However, it was not taking in water and did not sustain damage to its propellors. The passengers aboard at the time were taken off the ferry whilst she was on the rocks and transferred to the pier by a rigid inflatable boat (RIB).
“Once it was clear that the vessel was out of control and on the rocks the Master’s priority was the safety of the passengers. The crew were instructed to prepare the passengers for evacuation and issue the lifejackets. The presence of a large RIB manned by an experienced helmsman provided a rapid and, in the circumstances, the best means of transferring the passengers to the shore. This operation was carried out quickly and efficiently,” the report states.
In the midst of all this, one passenger was thrown against a structure and was injured. At 5.25pm that evening, the vessel arrived at Inishturk Island with eight passengers disembarking, including a temporary crew member and three passengers boarded. One of these passengers had worked as crew on the Inishboffin ferry and he had been asked in advance to act as the third crew member for the passage back to Roonagh Pier. The MCIB criticised the company for using passengers as crew ‘no matter how well qualified’ describing it as ‘bad practice’.
The 40 page report reveals that at 5.35pm the Master on another Clare Island-based ferry - the ‘Clew Bay Queen’ - informed a crew member of the ‘Pirate Queen’, via text message, that the leading lights on Roonagh pier were not operating.
At 6.15pm the Master of the ‘Pirate Queen’ made the decision to berth at Roonagh pier, but when they approached the pier a large swell forced the vessel over onto the rocks on the east side of the ferry.
The findings into the incident state that there were a number of communications to the Local Light Authority (LLA), Mayo County Council, from the ferry operator about the condition of the working lights on the pier at Roonagh, and about the availability of the navigation lights on the piers at Roonagh and Clare Island.
The report also states that Mayo County Council has a large number of aids to navigation (including navigational lights) to maintain and they appeared to have reacted promptly to the complaints when reported. Also, in a correspondence to the MCIB, the Commissioners for Irish Lights (to whom Mayo County Council are accountable in relation to navigational aids) state: “Mayo County Council have an excellent record in relation to provision and maintenance of their aids”.
The green navigation light, reported not working at the time of the incident, was fully operational when inspected the next day.
The whole incident took place over 15 to 20 minutes and the report found the evacuation operation was not without hazard but it was relatively safer compared to the alternatives of launching the vessel’s own boat onto a rocky, wave-swept sea.
“In the event the evacuation was carried out without incident or injury.”
There was no involvement by the Coast Guard or emergency services and the Pirate Queen re-floated herself before returning to Clare Island.

HAVE YOUR SAY email antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie with your comments