Report warns of fisherman fatigue

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A fishing boat probably grounded and sank off Skye with the loss of two crewmen because one of them fell asleep in the wheelhouse, a report has said.

Neil Sutherland, 39, and David Davidson, 40, both from Burghead in Moray, died when their prawn trawler, the Brothers, went down on 1 June.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report warned fishermen of the dangers of tiredness.

It said the accident showed the importance of regular breaks.

The report said that both men would have been suffering the effects of fatigue from working long hours and a lack of sleep.

It also said the men had drunk some alcohol before the ship left the harbour.

This accident clearly shows the importance of being alert at work and ensuring that fisherman have regular and substantial breaks Stephen MeyerMAIB

Stephen Meyer, chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said: "Prawn fishing is generally done during good weather and fisherman will work very long hours to make the most of it.

"This accident clearly shows the importance of being alert at work and ensuring that fisherman have regular and substantial breaks."

The Banff-registered twin rig trawler, which had set off from Gairloch, was located on the sea bed just north of Eilean Trodday on 3 June.

The body of Mr Davidson was found on the shoreline in Wester Ross almost three weeks later.

His crewmate has never been found.

Marine officials have now issued a flyer to fishermen urging them to take fatigue seriously.

The report also highlighted the failure of a new position reporting system which the crew were testing.

However it said that if it had it been working, it probably would not have saved the men.