Discover the Beukborg: Ratings & Maritime News

An investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MAIB) revealed that the helmsman of the 'Priscilla' was engrossed in watching music videos on his mobile phone when the vessel ran aground on July 18, 2018. During the incident, the ship, which was en route to Portland Firth, deviated significantly off its planned course. The report highlighted that the officer failed to monitor the vessel's navigation for nearly two hours, instead focusing on the videos on his phone, which subsequently led to serious damage to the ship's hull. When the helmsman eventually recognized the vessel's perilous situation, he opted for an alternate route based solely on radar data, neglecting other critical navigation information. Compounding the issue, the navigation alarm on the bridge was turned off, and there was no lookout posted, despite the vessel operating at night. Moreover, while the mate had just finished a period of rest before his shift, he was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and dealing with anxiety and restlessness. Interestingly, the report also noted that some may view watching videos as a method to combat fatigue during lonely night shifts. However, the MAIB concluded that such distractions pose significant risks, diverting attention from the essential task of monitoring the ship's course and position.

The cargo vessel 'Priscilla' is back on course after successfully navigating a grounding incident on the Pentland Skerries on July 18. Following thorough inspections, it was determined that the ship sustained only minor damage, ensuring the vessel's structural integrity remained intact. The salvage operations were officially concluded on July 27, allowing ownership of the ship to revert back to its owners. Now cleared to complete its journey to Silloth in Cumbria, 'Priscilla' is proceeding with the balance of its cargo under stringent conditions. During the salvage operations, a portion of her 3,300-tonne fertiliser cargo was offloaded onto barges to aid in refloating, alongside the removal of 28 tonnes of oil. After discharging its cargo in Silloth, the owners plan to present their itinerary for taking 'Priscilla' to a repair facility. As of July 28, the vessel remained anchored in Scapa Flow, awaiting favorable weather conditions for onward travel. It later moved to Bangor Anchorage on July 31. Stay updated with developments on this incident through the following reports: [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-44987555) and [Tugspotters](https://www.tugspotters.com/app/content/2018/07/priscilla-salvage-vessels-orkney-islands/).

The cargo vessel 'Priscilla' has been successfully refloated as of July 25 at 9 p.m. After a coordinated effort involving a lifeboat, the 'Priscilla' was towed to the safety of Scapa Flow in the Orkney Isles, where it will undergo a thorough assessment and an underwater dive inspection. The vessel dropped anchor at coordinates 58° 52.48' N 002° 57.88' W, with the tug 'Multratug 20' remaining on standby during the operation. In a significant development, over 270 tonnes of cargo were efficiently transferred from the 'Priscilla' to a reception barge, which then made its way to Windwick Bay for further loading onto the sister ship 'Alana Evita'. A second barge joined the operation, leading to a total removal of approximately 1,350 tonnes of cargo. To mitigate the risk of an unexpected refloat during the lightering process, a tug was strategically connected to the stern of the 'Priscilla' once 500 tonnes had been discharged. Other vessels involved in the salvage operation included the 'Multrasalvor 3' and 'Multrasalvor 4', alongside support from Wagenborg, which provided the 'Wagenborg Barge 14' and the 'Alana Evita'. Briggs also contributed to the operation with the 'Forth Guardsman', 'Forth Trojan', and 'Sprucelight'. For further information and images of the salvage operation, visit the following links: https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/177817/cargo-ship-arrives-at-scapa-flow-following-salvage-operation/ and view the photo here: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4WhHLX0AAo29-.jpg.