Cemfjord sinking: Crew lost during 'extraordinarily violent' seas

The Cemfjord capsized in January 2015

The crew of a small cargo ship died after their vessel capsized in strong winds and 10m-high waves, a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has heard.

The bodies of the eight men were never recovered after the MV Cemfjord sank in the Pentland Firth, a stretch of sea between Orkney and the Caithness coast.

The FAI heard the boat capsized in January 2015 during powerful tidal conditions dubbed the Merry Men of Mey.

The sea conditions were described as "extraordinarily violent".

A ferry headed for Aberdeen came across the Cemfjord before it sank.

The final day of the inquiry in Wick heard this discovery might never have been made if the ferry's crew had not deviated from their usual course due to bad weather.

Principal procurator fiscal depute Stella Swan said the loss of the entire crew of the Cyprus-registered cement carrier meant it would never be known why certain decisions were made on the day of the accident.

Referring to evidence from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), she said winds at the time were gusting to 80 to 90mph and waves were 10m or higher.

'Extraordinarily violent'

Ms Swan said the incident on 2 January could have been avoided if the Cemfjord had travelled through the firth once the tidal conditions had abated.

She said the crew of two larger ferries had delayed their journeys due to the state of the sea, which was described as "extraordinarily violent".

The inquiry heard the wreck site had become the final resting place for the men, and was also told arrangements were made for their families to visit the site.

The 83m (272ft) vessel had been sailing to Runcorn in Cheshire and the crew had spent Christmas onboard together before heading around Scotland's north coast.

Seven Polish nationals and one man from the Philippines died in the sinking.

They were:

• Master Pawel Chruscinski, 43

• Chief officer Jaroslaw Orlow, 54

• Chief engineer Roman Tamas, 56

• Third engineer Jerome Narvas, 32

• Ordinary seaman Henryk Dubanowski, 55

• Ordinary seaman Tomasz Kwiatkowski, 31

• Able seaman Artur Podrazka, 24

• Ordinary seaman and cook Artur Wegorek, 24

The FAI heard the loss of the men had been "keenly felt" by fellow employees of the ship's owners, Brise.

Through a representative, authorities in Cyprus expressed their "deepest sympathies" to the families of the crew.

Sheriff Gary Aitken said he hoped to publish his determination in the next three to four weeks.

He said: "This was clearly a tragedy and nothing will ever bring back the officers and crew of the Cemfjord.

"I hope in due course the determination will be of some assistance to the families."