Prosecutions report 2024
Updated 8 May 2024
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1. Boat owner to pay £20,000 after vessel collides with rocks
1.1 Defendant
Ian Sullivan
1.2 Date of hearing
16 February 2024
1.3 Details
A boat owner was ordered to pay £20,000 in prosecution costs at the Portsmouth Crown Court on 16 February 2024, following a joint investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Hampshire Police.
Ian Sullivan, 55, from Swindon, pleaded guilty to a failure to keep a proper lookout and failure to proceed at a safe speed under The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996, in connection with the grounding of his vessel Sully in Totland Bay, Isle of Wight in September 2022.
In addition to costs, Sullivan was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Three passengers on board the motorboat sustained serious injuries when the vessel collided with rocks at the shoreline, with one of the crew suffering life-changing injuries.
Several witnesses reported that the brightly lit motor cruiser crossed Totland Bay at speed on the night of 24 September and would have been unlikely to maintain a proper lookout. The vessel continued without deviating or slowing down before grounding on the shore at high speed. The incident sparked an extensive search and rescue response, involving HM Coastguard, the RNLI and police.
The grounding caused serious damage to the vessel, which has proved impossible to salvage and remains marooned high and dry on the shore.
During the sentencing His Honour Judge Newton-Price said Sullivan operated his boat in an unsafe manner and as a result caused his passengers significant injuries. Consumption of alcohol affected Sullivan’s judgement, he added.
Mark Cam, Senior Investigator with the MCA’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team (RCIT), said:
This result demonstrates that the MCA will always take appropriate and necessary action when a complete lack of compliance and disregard for the laws of the sea are shown; it compromises not only safety but ultimately the lives of many.
Mr Sullivan’s vessel was wrecked and three of his friends seriously injured. We want to send a clear message that such offences are not acceptable and those unwilling to follow rules and regulation and improve standards of safety will face the full weight of the law.
2. Mother and son to pay more than £5,000 for obstructing work of MCA
2.1 Defendants
Rhys Wonnacott and Louise Wonnacott
2.2 Date of hearing
2 May 2024
2.3. Details
A man has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 for obstructing the work of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
A woman has also been fined £2,000 for failing to provide the MCA with requested documents.
On 3 March, 2022, Rhys Wonnacott, of Milford Haven, prevented MCA surveyors boarding the fishing vessel Provider, moored at Milford Haven Harbour. Because of this, surveyors were unable to complete an inspection of the vessel, as part of a Fishing Vessel Concentrated Inspection Campaign that was taking place that day.
Obstructing an MCA surveyor from their duties is against the law, under Section 258 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
On 2 May at Haverford West Magistrates’ Court, Rhys Wonnacott was fined £800 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £320 and costs of £1,000.
Following the incident in 2022 Louise Wonnacott, Rhys’ mother, of Milford Haven, repeatedly failed to provide the MCA with required documentation as part of an ongoing investigation, after claiming her and Rhys Wonnacott were not responsible for the fishing vessel Provider. She did not respond to the MCA for around 7 months – between March and October 2023.
Not supplying the required documents is an offence under Section 260 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
At the same court hearing, Louise Wonnacott was fined £2,000 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £800 and costs of £1,000.
The court heard that “the role of the MCA is extremely important and vital to the protection of fishers at sea, and requires the cooperation of all parties”.
It was also heard that Rhys Wonnacott wanted an apology to go to the MCA, particularly the surveyors involved in the incident.
Following the sentencings, Maritime Investigator Lesley Hopker said:
The MCA and its surveyors encourage and assist operators to maintain high quality vessels, and inspect ships where concerns have been identified, to ensure safety standards are upheld within the maritime industry.
Obstructing MCA staff prevents them from delivering its commitment for safer lives, safer ship and cleaner seas.
The result today reflects the importance of the MCA’s work, and the importance of working with the MCA to ensure you and your vessel are as safe and prepared as can be.