BBC Marmara 2021: Little Minch Grounding
BBC Marmara ran aground on Eilean Trodday, Little Minch, on 25 July 2021 after its watchkeeper fell asleep; lookout and BNWAS were removed (MAIB 8/2023).
The BBC Marmara grounding is the subject of MAIB Accident Investigation Report 8/2023, published on 30 November 2023. At 0332 on 25 July 2021, on passage from Foynes in Ireland to Scrabster, the cargo vessel ran aground on the island of Eilean Trodday in the Little Minch, off the west coast of Scotland. She was refloated and a dive survey at Stornoway found hull penetration into the bow thruster space and forepeak tanks.
The MAIB found that the watchkeeper fell asleep after drinking before and on taking the watch, and that the removal of the lookout, the bridge navigational watch alarm system and coastguard interventions meant the grounding could not be prevented. The report was published with a safety flyer counting 81 MAIB investigations since the 2009 BNWAS mandate, 20 of which involved sole watchkeepers at night or in restricted visibility and/or a disabled BNWAS. The full article will cover the voyage, the vessel traffic service findings and recommendations 2023/112 to 2023/114.