Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 May 1992

Vol. 420 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fishing Trawler Investigation.

Patrick McCartan

Ceist:

27 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Marine if any investigation has been held into the circumstances of the sinking of the fishing trawler Amaryllis off Helvick Head on 11 May last; the result of any such investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Dr. Woods)

The fishing vessel Amaryllis which was registered in the UK sank of Mine Head, County Waterford on May 11. The crew of three took to the vessel's liferaft and were rescued by an Irish fishing vessel in the area. None of the crew suffered any injuries which required hospital treatment.

Following the incident a surveyor of the Marine Survey Office of my Department interviewed each of the three crew members. It was established that when she sank the vessel had been searching for a net which had been lost earlier. The vessel had searched for the net by dragging a scallop dredge along the seabed. The dredge was attached to a wire rope connected to a winch on board the vessel. From the statements made by the crew it would appear that the dredge became fouled on the bottom. The winch which was powered by the vessel's engine was engaged at this point, in an effort to haul in the dredge, and it was hoped, the missing net. A strain on the wire became noticeable and the stern of the vessel was being dragged downwards. The crew tried to disengage the clutch on the winch but it seems that this mechanism jammed. The engine continued to drive the winch and the stern of the vessel was eventually dragged below the surface of the water and the vessel flooded and sank. The crew had just enough time to get into the liferaft from which they were eventually rescued by the Irish trawler.

It appears from the available evidence that this accident was as a result of the failure of the clutch mechanism between the engine and the winch. The engine was not stopped as it was thought to be too dangerous to enter the engine-room with the vessel about to go under.

The crew of the vessel and the surveyor of my Department are fully satisfied that there was no involvement of any third party or craft (such as a submarine) in this incident.