Probes begin into ferry accident

A NUMBER of inquiries have been launched after three men were injured when a passenger ferry being loaded on to a cargo ship fell 40 feet into the water.

None of the three men was seriously injured in the incident at Galway docks when two ferries which serviced the Aran Islands were being loaded onto a large cargo ship.

It is the second incident in a week involving the ferries — another cargo ship, Pantanal, went aground on rocks when it arrived in Ireland to bring the boats from Rossaveal to Mauritius.

The MV Clann Eagle I and MV Clann na nOileáín, had been built for Bad Arann Teo (trading as Aran Direct) and were almost new. They cost in the region of €6m but were sold recently for a sum believed to be about €1m.

Inquiries into the incident have been launched by the Health and Safety Authority, and Galway Harbour Board, while the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has also been notified.

Three local men, father and son Mairtín and Éanna Ó Conghaíle and Liam Beatty were injured when a sling lifting Clann na nOileán snapped and the ferry fell 40 feet into the water.

Two of the injured were rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Galway, while the third was taken by car after Galway harbourmaster Capt Brian Sheridan, his pilots and the Galway Fire Service organised medical aid for the injured men.

Ship management company Harren and Partner confirmed that four cracks were found on the outer shell of the Pantanal when it went aground last week and that they had dispatched the Danish-registered Thor Gitta to pick up the two ferries and bring them to Mauritius.

Investigations into the incident will concentrate on why the three men were left on board while the ferry was being lifted out of the water and onto the cargo ship.

Galway harbourmaster, Capt. Sheridan, said the three men should not have been on board during the lifting operation.

“I would like to compliment the emergency services. They were on scene very quickly; the fire brigade, gardaí and ambulance service.... The vessel will be detained and no ship movements will happen until further investigations are carried out,” he said.

Picture: The Clann na nOileáín plunges into Galway Docks after a cable snapped as it was being hoisted on board the Thor Gitta yesterday. Picture: Andrew Downes