Sea conditions and heavy catch may have resulted in Glengad fishing tragedy

Sea conditions and a heavy catch may have resulted in the death of two Donegal fishermen who died after their boat capsized, that’s according to a new report released yesterday.
65-year-old Edward Doherty, from Ross Head, Malin Head, and his nephew 41-year-old Robert McLaughlin died after their vessel ‘Jennifer’ sank off Glengad on November 1 last year.
A report released yesterday by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board blamed either wind or wave action, or a combination of both, for the accident.
However, the report also said the number of crab pots on board would have had a serious impact on the vessel’s ability to deal with worsening weather
The total estimated weight of pots and ropes on board the ‘Jennifer’ at the time of the incident was considered to be in the region of between 915kg and 1,096kg; the equivalent of carrying between 12 and 14 extra persons aboard said the MCBI.
Winds of Force 6 to 8 were reported, but there were also ‘eddies’ — a swirling of the sea running back in the opposite direction of the main flow of the water.
The MCBI recommended that the Minister for Transport review the Code of Practice for Fishing Vessels under 15 metres.