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Skipper Ferguson Hughes Fined After Vessel Grounded


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#1 Barry McCrindle

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Posted 09 May 2013 - 01:36 PM

From the BBC news site

Quote

A fishing vessel skipper has been fined £850 after his vessel grounded while he attempted to fix a mechanical problem.
Ferguson Hughes, 58, pleaded guilty to failing to keep a proper lookout and leaving the wheelhouse unattended.
Downpatrick Magistrates Court heard that the Elegant II grounded about one mile south of Davaar Island, off the Kintyre Pensinsula, on 7 June 2012.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the incident "could have had much more serious consequences".
The court heard that Mr Hughes had previously reported problems with the automatic pilot.
He received spare parts in the form of bushes for the steering motor which he fitted in Campbeltown.
Crew sleeping
After sailing, the problem recurred and Mr Hughes went to the engine room to adjust the new bushes.
While he was doing this, the vessel grounded on a shallow shelving beach.
Following a mayday call, the fishing vessel Argent went to his assistance, but this ship also went aground.
The Argent later came off as the tide rose but the Elegant II needed the assistance of a lifeboat to be pulled clear.
Captain Bill Bennett, the MCA's area operations manager, said: "There was no excuse for leaving the wheelhouse unattended while the vessel was under way.
"He could have stopped the engines and anchored, or called one of the five crew members who were sleeping on board to come to the wheelhouse while he went to the engine room.
"This was a very serious incident which could have had much more serious consequences."

I always see both sides of the argument, the one that's wrong and mine.....

#2 caveat emptor

caveat emptor

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Posted 19 May 2013 - 05:37 PM

View Postky16, on 09 May 2013 - 11:45 PM, said:

lucky it wiz davvar and not Yorkshire  ha ha ha   :-\ :-\

Did you or Clamcal give him any tips?  :ph34r:



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