Drunk skipper fined after ship ran aground on Isle of Rum when he fell asleep

A skipper has been fined for causing serious damage to a fishing boat on the Isle of Rum when he fell asleep after drinking alcohol.

Shaun MacInnes, from Eriskay, was in charge of the FV Annette when it ran aground on the Isle of Rum on March 31, 2022.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) investigated the incident and said the 29-year-old denied drinking.

He claimed he had fallen asleep because he was tired due to “personal circumstances”.

However, during the trial the court heard evidence that MacInnes had been directed by its owner to take the wooden-hulled vessel from Eriskay to Mallaig for repairs.

While in Mallaig, MacInnes telephoned the owner, stating that he intended to take the deckhand to the Isle of Rum “sightseeing” once repairs were made.

The owner agreed on the strict understanding that MacInnes did not consume any alcohol before or during the trip.

During the trial, witnesses gave evidence about MacInnes’ condition when they encountered him.

A fisheries officer who spoke with MacInnes just after 4pm said he could smell beer on his breath and saw that he was unsteady on his feet.

He was said to be slurring his words and at one point, fell off the skipper’s chair which was surrounded by empty beer cans.

The fisheries officer was so concerned about MacInnes’ condition and his intention of setting sail for Rum that he called the police.

A police officer arrived and boarded the vessel, finding MacInnes asleep in the wheelhouse. He managed to wake him with the assistance of the deckhand.

The officer established their intention to go to sea and attempted to persuade them to remain in Mallaig and sleep off the effects before setting sail the following day.

After 10pm that evening, the Coastguard responded to a Mayday call from the boat after it ran aground on rocks.

The boat sustained significant damage and was recovered and escorted back to Mallaig by lifeboat crews.

MacInnes was fined £2,000 with a £75 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.

Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the COPFS, said:  ”It is clear from the evidence led at trial that Shaun MacInnes ignored instructions from the owner of the vessel and the police in taking an unnecessary trip while under the effects of alcohol and fell asleep.

“As the master of the vessel, he failed to keep a proper lookout and caused it to run aground putting his and his deckhand’s lives at risk, causing serious damage to the boat and the needless deployment of emergency service resources.

“COPFS will continue to work closely with the MCA to ensure anyone who breaks the law faces prosecutorial action.”

Jay Staff, MCA deputy head of Regulatory, Compliance and Investigations, said: “The MCA will always support partners or take action itself against seafarers or operators behaving dangerously anywhere in the UK.

“We will always work to hold responsible those who, like Shaun MacInnes, put crew, other seafarers and the public at risk by failing to follow the rules that keep people safe on the water.”