Loss of Crewman from Tug. Final resolution.

[oldgit]

As some of you may know my brother was lost at sea a couple of years ago when a totally incompetent skipper went to sea ignoring all warnings and advice from port authorities in boat that simply should not have in use due to falsification of paperwork and outright flouting of safety rules .
After years of denial of any responsibility and much prevarication the owner/skippers appeal against sentence was summarily dismissed in the court of appeal in London today.

My thanks to everyone one involved in this including the MAIB and the MCA for their tenacity and for the RNLI for going out that night. Fred.

 

[Actionmat]

Common sense prevails:encouragement:

 

[Ramage]

Good to hear it is finally settled, Fred,

All the best from Marian & I.

Paul.

 

[LittleSister]

Good to hear it is finally settled, Fred,

+1

What was he convicted of, and sentenced to, in the end?


What was

 

[sarabande]

Skipper got eight months. No compensation for what happened.

http://www.workboat.com/news-feed/2...-month-prison-sentence-after-death-of-crewman


The MCA MAIB report is resolute about the errors.


I hope OG finds peace as time passes.

 

[oldgit]

Skipper got eight months. No compensation for what happened.

http://www.workboat.com/news-feed/2...-month-prison-sentence-after-death-of-crewman

The article above refers to the findings of the judge at the Southampton Crown Court in March after the skipper pleaded guilty to number of charges at the very last moment..The tug skippers brief immediately lodged an appeal after the the sentence was announced and defendant was immediately released on bail.
We had since been waiting for the appeal court date to be set which can take few months.
The inquest to be held in Hastings next week.
All the MCA charges so far have been related to the Merchant Shipping Acts.The coroner may or may not decide to take further action as they see fit.

https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/per...-near-beachy-head-england-with-loss-of-1-life

As the case has now been settled it may be of interest to know that the boat concerned,before it had been converted into a tug boat, was previously used as fishing boat.
The boat sank killing its skipper and the boat was moved down to Gravesend where it sank again.
The final ignominy was that the owner of the tug changed its name from "Endurance" to "Phoenix " shortly after the accident. He was still working as normal on the river up until recently.

 

[tony_lavelle]

So has Richley actually gone to jail now? I was amazed to see Endurance, sorry Phoenix, still operating on the river despite what happened.
Decent news article at http://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/skippers-jail-appeal-rejected-38817/

 

[Capt Popeye]

Humm, a very sorry tale indeed.

Just hope that the Jail time starts very soon and that this matter can start to be finalised, or as finalised as can be expected.

 

[byron]

Eight months less time served less two thirds remission. The worst way he will be out in 10 weeks or so.

 

[oldgit]

The gentleman concerned has gone to prison.He will be released in matter of weeks.
We were more concerned that he was found guilty rather than in the length of sentence.