REVEALED: The ten deadly seconds that cost two experienced sailors their lives when their tugboat capsized

The deaths of two experienced sailors when their tugboat capsized in less than 10 seconds was ‘another cruel lesson’ in how fast disaster can strike at sea, marine investigators have found.

Tug master George Taft, 65, and deckhand Ian Catterson, 73, died trapped in the wheelhouse of the Biter when it was pulled sideways by its towrope and capsized off the coast of Greenock.

Neither man’s marine pilot training had prepared them for working on Biter, which was classed as a conventional tug.

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation also found there was a ‘breakdown of the systems that should have kept them safe’.

The tug had been towing the passenger cruise ship Hebridean Princess towards the James Watt Dock when it was affected by ‘girting’ or sideways forces and it was unable to reverse direction before its weight came onto the towing bridle.

Tug master George Taft, 65, died when Biter capsized off the coast of Greenock

Ian Catterson, 73, also died in the tragedy

Biter was operated by Clyde Marine Services

A safety rope called a gob rope failed to prevent the tug being towed sideways and capsizing.

Despite Hebridean Princess raising the alarm and launching a lifeboat and another tug, Bruiser, being on the scene, the two men on board perished.

CCTV cameras on the shore captured the moment Biter went over and the desperate search for survivors.

The men’s bodies were recovered by police divers the next day. Both were found to have drowned.

Mr Taft had worked on tugs and workboats for 45 years and was ‘an experienced and respected master’. 

Mr Catterson had changed career after working as a deck officer in the 1970s and had returned on a casual basis.

The investigation found master/pilot and pilot/tug exchanges were incomplete and, with no shared understanding of the plan, the passenger vessel’s master and the tug masters were unable to challenge the pilot’s intentions.

Divers were called in as part of the recovery effort

Hebridean Princess’s speed of 4.6 knots (kts) also meant the load on Biter’s towlines was between two and five times more than it would have been at the recommended lower speed of 2-3kts.

It said given the tug’s rapid capsize, it was unlikely its crew had sufficient time to operate the emergency tow release mechanism.

Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: ‘Tug Biter’s accident was another cruel lesson of how rapidly things can go dreadfully wrong.

‘In less than 10 seconds the tug capsized, and two experienced seafarers lost their lives, because of a breakdown of the systems that should have kept them safe.

‘Small conventional tugs remain an essential part of UK port operations. However, the vulnerabilities of these vessels must be understood by those that operate and control them.

‘Harbour authorities, ship and tug masters, and pilots should collectively own this risk. Pilots and tug crews must be suitably trained and experienced for their roles, and they must share a detailed understanding of the towage plan before they start the job.

‘Speed, which has an exponential effect on towing forces, must be carefully controlled and the lines correctly set.

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Several boats in the vicinity rushed to help with the rescue effort in the immediate aftermath

‘Everyone involved must then monitor the execution of the plan and, if needed, act to keep everyone safe.’

The MAIB has recommended Clyde Marine Services Limited, the tug’s owners, review its safety management system and risk assessments to provide clear guidance on the rigging of the gob rope, the safe speed to conduct key manoeuvres, and that it adopts a recognised training scheme for its tug masters.

Recommendations have also been made to Clydeport Operations Limited to commission an independent review of its marine pilot training and to risk assess and review its pilot grade limits and tug matrix.

A spokesperson for Clyde Marine Services said: ‘We acknowledge the release of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report. We will take time to review and consider it.

‘Our thoughts remain with the families affected and Clyde Marine Services will continue to co-operate fully with ongoing official investigations.’

Jim McSporran, port director, Clydeport, said: ‘We note the findings from the MAIB report and will consider its recommendations in detail.

‘Above all, our deepest sympathy goes to the families, friends and colleagues of the two men who died in this tragic incident.

‘The health, safety and the welfare of our employees and the third parties we work with is, and always will be, our number one priority.’