Grounding of chemical tanker Key Bora

Location: Approaches to Kyleakin Pier, Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Accident Investigation Report 15/2021

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and subsequent recommendations:

MAIB investigation report 15-2021: Key Bora

Annexes to MAIB investigation report 15-2021: Key Bora

Key Bora vessel photo

Image courtesy of www.marinetraffic.com

Summary

At 1505 on 28 March 2020, the Gibraltar registered chemical tanker Key Bora ran aground when on its final approach to the pier at the fish producer Mowi’s facility at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Key Bora was aground for about 12 minutes before re-floating, and then being berthed under its own power. Key Bora’s hull was damaged and there was flooding into ballast tanks; however, there was no injury or pollution. The grounding happened because the bridge team relied on locally produced survey data that did not show a boulder obstruction near the pier. This survey data appeared to the crew to be reliable and accurate, so was preferred to the ECDIS data, which did show the obstruction. The investigation also identified safety management issues at Mowi’s Kyleakin facility, including that the Port Marine Safety Code was not fully implemented.

Safety Issues

  • the passage plan needs to be based on the most accurate hydrographic information available; advice should be sought or the ‘most dangerous’ data used if there is a conflict

  • ECDIS safety features should be utilised to warn of danger ahead

  • the Port Marine Safety Code provides important guidance to assure safe maritime operations in ports and harbours

Recommendations

Our report makes a recommendation to Mowi Scotland Limited to ensure that marine operations at Kyleakin follow the guidance in the Port Marine Safety Code (2021/134), and to consider upgrading the facility to a statutory harbour authority (2021/135).

Port Marine Safety Code

Updates to this page

Published 16 December 2021