Reviews & Ratings for the Performance

On February 7, 2020, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) unveiled its comprehensive report concerning the grounding incident involving the 'Seatruck Performance', which took place on May 8, 2019. The investigation revealed that shallow water phenomena, specifically squat and bow cushion effects, played a significant role in this maritime mishap. At 10:45 PM on the fateful night, the vessel ran aground in the Greenore Channel, located in Carlingford Lough, Northern Ireland. This occurrence came shortly after the ferry had set sail from Warrenpoint, heading to Heysham, England. The incident transpired as the captain attempted a series of manual course adjustments close to the No. 21 buoy. Unfortunately, the turn to starboard was initiated too late, causing the 'Seatruck Performance' to veer towards the channel's northern side and collide with an underwater rock outcropping. Following the grounding, the ferry developed a seven-degree list; however, both steering and propulsion systems remained operational, allowing the vessel to navigate back to Warrenpoint without requiring external assistance. Thankfully, all 11 passengers and 22 crew members aboard experienced no injuries, and no environmental pollution was reported as a result of the incident. The grounding did, however, inflict significant damage to the ferry's hull, resulting in a 30-foot-long tear along its port side. A subsequent inspection, including a dry docking, revealed that a tank and an adjacent void space had been compromised, with fragments of granite also discovered within the tanks. Due to the extent of the damage, the 'Seatruck Performance' was taken out of service for three weeks while necessary repairs were carried out. The MAIB’s findings indicated that the crew had not consistently considered the effects of squat when determining under-keel clearance (UKC) during the vessel's departure from Greenock. The investigation concluded that the grounding resulted from the ferry's heading being adjusted later than required, compounded by the adverse effects of shallow water as the ferry approached its intended turn, impacting both its course and speed.

On May 10, 2019, the freight ferry 'Seatruck Performance' experienced a grounding incident while navigating from Warrenpoint to Heysham. The vessel found itself stuck at coordinates 54°01'34" N, 006°06'38" W, which is situated at the entrance of Carlingford Lough, around 10:45 p.m. Following the grounding, the 'Seatruck Performance' was successfully refloated, but not before showing signs of water intrusion in void spaces number three and four, causing the ship to list to its port side. The ferry made its way back to Warrenpoint, arriving at 11:40 p.m. There, it was detained for a thorough inspection of the damages, which will be assessed by the relevant classification society alongside the Isle of Man authority. To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, the harbour master also requested a specialized dive team to inspect the vessel's hull beneath the waterline. The 'Seatruck Performance' later proceeded to Belfast, where it entered dry dock on May 11 for further repairs and assessment.