The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has detained a further UK flagged fishing vessel following its failure to get its mandatory intermediate survey done in time. Owners of the scallop dredger, Zara Annabel, have been served with the notice to ensure the vessel makes for the nearest suitable port and to notify the crew that its UK Fishing Vessel Certificate is no longer valid. It brings to a total of six the number of UK flagged fishing vessels detained by the MCA over the past two weeks after being found to be non-compliant with multiple areas of legislation under the Merchant Shipping Act.
The Olivia Jean was detained by MCA surveyors at Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire on 31 July. Earlier in the same week, Camm Bounteous was detained in Brixham and Noordzee was also detained at the same location.
During the previous week, two ships Camm Courageous and Sea Lady were also found to be in breach of legislation and both detained at Shoreham.
Those five vessels are owned by Annan-based fishing company TN Trawlers Ltd, the sixth is operated through Fraserburgh Inshore Fishermen Ltd.
All fishing vessels currently remain in detention.
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