Collision at sea could have lead to 'environmental disaster' off South West coast, court told

Five trawler crew members were injured, three of them requiring treatment in Dingle hospital due to the collision, the court heard.

A French-registered trawler and a bulk carrier vessel had collided in 2019 around 24 nautical miles north west of one of the Blasket Islands. Pictured is Great Blasket Island.

An environmental disaster off the South West coast was a possible result of a collision between a French-registered trawler and a bulk carrier vessel on its way to the Aughinish plant in Limerick, the High Court has heard.

The collision occurred just before midnight on October 12, 2019, between the Kirrixhi trawler and the Hong Kong-registered Hua Sheng Hai around 24 nautical miles north west of Inishtearagh Lighthouse on one of the Blasket Islands. The vessel owners have sued each other for damages alleging negligence against each other. The court is first dealing with the question of who was liable.