Tug boat firm admits failings after crew member deaths

The owner of a tug boat which capsized, killing three crew, has admitted health and safety failures.

The Flying Phantom sank in freezing fog in December 2007 while towing a cargo vessel on the River Clyde near Glasgow.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, tug company Svitzer Marine Ltd pleaded guilty to a series of health and safety breaches, including failing to put in place a safe operating procedure following the grounding of the Flying Phantom in foggy conditions in a previous incident in December 2000.

Stephen Humphreys, 33, from Greenock, Inverclyde, Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock, and Bob Cameron, 65, from Houston, Renfrewshire, died when the tug sank.

The accident occurred when the Flying Phantom was towing the Red Jasmine vessel in the Clyde Harbour area on December 19.

Dense fog severely restricted visibility and the crew could not see the boat they were towing. The larger vessel overtook the tug and caused it to capsize.

Svitzer Marine admitted “failing to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of the crew.