Under the influence

摘要

In the early hours of 18 February last year the Scottish village of Kilchoan was disturbed by the sound of metal grinding against rock. The 7,409 gt UK-flagged general cargo vessel (GCV) Lysblink Seaways, sailing from Belfast to Skogn, Norway, with 50 tonnes of waste paper, had missed a course change at a waypoint and crashed into the rugged coastline near Mingary Pier at 13.3 kt, having narrowly missed another outcrop of rocks. Half an hour later the master advised Stornoway Coastguard that there was no damage, no pollution and no injuries. By 04.45, when the Tobermory lifeboat reached the stricken vessel, it was clear that the situation was more serious. The vessel's hull had been breached, an engine room sludge tank was filling with water and the steering gear was damaged. As the ship came off the rocks, 25 tonnes of marine gas oil spilled into the Sound of Mull.