Trawler’s submarine report is due

Trawler’s submarine report is due

28 September 2016

THE Marine Accident Investigation Branch will shortly publish its report into a terrifying incident involving an Ardglass trawler in April of last year when it was almost pulled under the water by a Royal Navy submarine.

The 60 foot Karen was fishing for prawns in the Irish Sea when its nets were snagged by the sub, and only the quick actions of skipper Paul Murphy and his three-man crew prevented the vessel from being pulled under the water.

The accident investigators report will be published on October 13 and comes just over a year after the trawler skipper received a personal apology for what happened from former UK Defence Minister Penny Mordaunt.

The Ministry of Defence initially denied it was involved in the incident which saw the trawler dragged violently backwards at speed, claiming its nearest vessel to the Ardglass trawler was located 150 miles away. 

Concern remains in the local fishing community why the submarine which snagged the Karen’s nets did not immediately surface as it required to do by law, with fishermen and their representatives keen to digest the contents of the report.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has welcomed confirmation that the report into the circumstances of the accident is to be made public shortly and that Minister Mourdant gave an assurance in September last year that protocols governing incidents involving trawlers have been altered as a result of the incident involving the Ardglass vessel.

She added: “This particular incident was deeply traumatic for Mr Murphy and his crew. In addition to the mental and emotional stress they experienced, the crew suffered a loss in earnings while repairs were carried out to the trawler.

“This stress and anxiety was made all the worse by the fact that the submarine involved in the incident did not surface, as it is required to do. It also took several months for the Royal Navy to identify the submarine responsible as its own.”

The MP confirmed she has spoken to current Defence Minister Mike Penning about the incident involving the Ardglass trawler and the forthcoming publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report expected to be published on line and in the House of Commons library.