According to UK MAIB, the skipper of a large scallop dredger became confused by the multitude of shore lights and struggled to ascertain his position in the channel.
The incident
A large scallop dredger departed its home port shortly after dawn; it was a fine and sunny day with a gentle breeze. As the vessel was underway without its full crew or sufficient supplies to sustain the planned week of fishing, the skipper intended to pick up an additional crew member, some fishing gear and supplies from a harbour further down the coast that he had not visited before.
The scallop dredger arrived at the harbour later that day to collect the crew and supplies. As darkness started to set in, the skipper decided to proceed into the buoyed channel and navigated into it by eye, without a plan.
He was not referring to his navigational aids or charts and was also unaware of the effects of wind and tidal stream, both of which were pushing the vessel to port and out of the channel.
The skipper became confused by the multitude of shore lights and struggled to ascertain his position in the channel. The leading lights had not been identified and the vessel drifted out of the channel, running aground in mud and sand.
Under its own power, and with the aid of the local lifeboat, the scallop dredger was hauled off the bank undamaged.
