Investigation launched into cr

This JON AN investigation has been launched after a Brixham crabber ploughed into the Breakwater while the watchkeeper was asleep at the wheel.

Local anglers were left reeling as they watched the Helen Claire motor headlong into the pier at around ten knots on Wednesday evening.

No one was injured in the accident, which is being looked into by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

It is understood that a 19-year-old teenager from Torquay fell asleep at the wheel following a two-day fishing trip.

Three other crew members were understood to be on board at the time. The vessel is owned by Nick Bright, of Paignton.

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Coastguard surveyors are refusing to let the crabber, now safely moored in Brixham harbour, return to sea until they have inspected the vessel for any damage.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "The Helen Claire was on its way back to Brixham when it hit the Breakwater.

"The watchkeeper fell asleep at the wheel when the vessel was returning from a two-day fishing trip.

"No one on board was hurt. The vessel is currently inside Brixham harbour being checked by the owner and Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors.

"The fishing vessel is not allowed to go to sea until it has been inspected."

Brixham angler Jon Maylor was fishing off the Breakwater with friends when the vessel smashed into the wall around 7.30pm.

He said: "It was going at full steam and we couldn't see anybody in the wheelhouse.

"We thought they were coming in to get some crab pots, which are quite close to the Breakwater, but the boat didn't change course -- it went straight into the Breakwater.

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"It's not something that you see very often.

"Nearly half of the boat was out of the water on the rocks. The tide was turning, and if it had got stuck there it would have rolled over.

"I had time to reel in my rod and walk over to the boat and take a photo before anyone came on deck.

"They struggled to get it off the rocks for a couple of minutes. It then sexy high heels came around the Breakwater. The back of the boat was very low in the water and we thought it must have taken water on board."

An MAIB spokesman confirmed that it was carrying out an investigation into the accident.

The incident is also being investigated by Brixham harbourmaster Paul Labistour.

He said: "As a precaution the boat is in the inner harbour, where she will not be a danger to navigation should she sink at any time.

"MCA surveyors have been on the boat and they found no ingress of water and only very minimal damage to the boat.

"I believe the boat is due to come out of the water for its summer refit, at which time they will have a full structural survey carried out.

"I have been out to the Breakwater and there doesn't seem to be any visible damage to it."

The trawler's owner was unavailable for comment yesterday.

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