Grounding of ro-ro passenger ferry European Highlander
Location: Attempting to berth at Cairnryan, Scotland.
Completed PE Summary: European Highlander
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | European Highlander |
| Registered Owner/Manager | P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea) Ltd |
| Port of Registry | Nassau |
| Flag | Bahamas |
| Type | Ro-ro ferry |
| Built | 2002 |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 162.7m |
| Gross Tonnage | 21188 |
| Date/Time | 08/01/2005, 0641 |
| Location of Incident | Scottish coastal waters |
| Incident Type | Grounding |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | Minor damage/None |
Synopsis
This Ro-Ro ferry grounded while trying to berth at Cairnryan in very high winds. The vessel was successfully refloated the following day and no injuries or pollution resulted from the accident.
Action taken
The Chief Inspector wrote to P&O Ferries supporting the actions they have taken as a result of their internal inquiry and further commenting that, in future:
- Passage planning should include details of abort positions, and,
The radar recorded by the vessel’s VDR should be properly adjusted and set at an appropriate range scale.