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 Alfred’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continued to St Margaret’s Hope under its own power later that afternoon; there was no pollution, but the vessel was withdrawn from service for repairs.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 vessel’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.