The officer on watch at the time of the Lysblink Seaways grounding had drunk half a litre of rum, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found.

The UK-flagged DFDS general cargo vessel had to be scrapped after running aground near Ardnamurchan Point, in Western Scotland, en route from Belfast to Skogn in Norway, and suffering extensive damage, leaking 25 tonnes of marine gas oil.

The MAIB investigation found that the one officer of the watch (OOW), a Russian, “had become inattentive due to the effects of alcohol consumption,” compounded by the fact that alarms associated with the ECDIS and bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) systems had been turned off.

Although a radar watch alarm had sounded every six minutes, the OOW was able to reset the alarm without leaving his chair.

“The vessel’s owner, DFDS A/S, has taken action to enhance compliance with the Safety Management Systems on sister vessels, with particular emphasis on control of alcohol consumption and bridge resource management,” concluded MAIB. “In view of the actions already taken, no recommendations have been made.”