Grounding of roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry Alfred
Location: east coast of Swona Island, Pentland Firth, Scotland.
Accident Investigation Report 3/2024
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations:
Summary
At 1400 on 5 July 2022, the UK registered roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry Alfred grounded on the east coast of Swona Island, Pentland Firth, Scotland. The impact caused injuries to 41 passengers and crew, and damage to Alfred바카라 사이트™s port bulbous bow and almost all the vehicles being transported on board. The vessel subsequently refloated on the rising tide and continued to St Margaret바카라 사이트™s Hope under its own power later that afternoon; there was no pollution, but the vessel was withdrawn from service for repairs.
Safety issues
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routinely passing too close to land
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fatigue led to loss of awareness at a critical point in the vessel바카라 사이트™s passage
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lack of assurance that procedures were being followed
Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
Recommendations
Recommendations (2024/107-109) have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to: ensure that passage plans are available during inspections/surveys; issue guidance to the UK domestic passenger fleet on the need to secure heavy objects; and, to review the general exemption issued to UK domestic passenger vessels that removes the requirement for them to carry voyage data recorders.
A recommendation (2024/110) has also been made to Pentland Ferries to ensure that it captures passenger details and injuries post-accident.
Photograph credit
Vessel photo courtesy of the RNLI.