SHALIMAR BCK598

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Morse cable caused sinking of trawler

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation regarding the "Shalimar" sinking on Apr 30 was released on Oct 9. The probe showed that the trawler suffered serious damage when it made heavy contact with the quay wall in Scrabster while shifting berths at 9.27 p.m. It sank at 9.50 p.m. The vessel’s wooden stern was severely damaged and the hull flooded rapidly. The vessel was re-floated 12 days later, but it was beyond economical repair. There had been four people on board – the skipper, the engineer and two deckhands – when it arrived at the harbour to land 348 boxes of white fish. While moving the boat to another berth, the skipper moved the engine control lever to “neutral” and then to “ahead” at 600rpm, but it continued to power astern. The skipper warned the port’s duty officer by VHF radio that the boat was going to hit the pier, which it did. It then rebounded and continued to strike the quay until the engineer stopped the main engine. As the water level rose, the deckhands were told to leave the vessel, but the skipper and engineer remained on board attempting to pump the water out, however, the boat was listing badly. The skipper and engineer realised that the vessel could not be saved and they scrambled ashore just before Shalimar sank alongside the quay. The investigation showed that a morse cable, which controlled the main engine’s gearbox, had come away from its mounting in the wheelhouse. It also revealed that the main engine could only be started and stopped from inside the engine room and the vessel was not fitted with watertight bulkheads. However, no recommendations were made as it was concluded that, if the vessel had been built today, current construction standards would have significantly increased its survivability.

Fishing vessel raised by gantry barge

The "Shalimar BCK 598" which sank within 30 minutes after it allided with a pier at Scrabster Harbour on Apr 30, 2014, has been salvaged after being submerged for 11 days. The vessel was raised out of the water in the evening of May 11 in a rescue operation estimated to have cost over £1 million. A gantry barge had arrived at the port on May 8 from Stromness and operations to move it into position took place on May 9 and 10. The process of lifting the boat began on May and took over 12 hours for it to be pulled out of the water at 8:10 p.m. Reports with photos and video: http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/VIDEO-Sunk-fishing-boat-salvaged-after-three-da-yoperation-11052014.htm# http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Fishing-boat-recovery-set-to-begin-at-Scrabster-07052014.htm