A boat owner has been instructed to pay £20,000 by the Portsmouth Crown Court today, 16 February, as a result of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Hampshire Police.
Ian Sullivan, 55, hailing from Swindon, admitted guilt to charges of failing to maintain a proper lookout and neglecting to proceed at a safe speed under The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996. These charges stem from an incident in September 2022, where Sullivan’s vessel, Sully, ran aground in Totland Bay, Isle of Wight.
In addition to the financial penalty, Sullivan has been handed a suspended 18-week prison sentence, valid for 12 months, and is mandated to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work.
The incident, which occurred on the night of 24 September, resulted in three passengers aboard the motorboat sustaining severe injuries when the vessel collided with rocks at the shoreline. One of the individuals suffered life-altering injuries as a consequence of the collision.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the brightly illuminated motor cruiser navigated Totland Bay at excessive speed, raising doubts about the crew’s ability to maintain a proper lookout. The vessel proceeded without altering course or reducing speed before crashing into the shore at a high velocity. The incident prompted an extensive search and rescue operation, involving HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and law enforcement agencies.
The impact inflicted significant damage to the vessel, rendering it irreparable and stranded on the shoreline.
During the sentencing, His Honour Judge Newton-Price remarked that Sullivan’s reckless operation of the boat led to severe injuries among his passengers. He also noted that Sullivan’s judgment was impaired due to alcohol consumption.
Mark Cam, Senior Investigator with the MCA’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team (RCIT), emphasized the seriousness of the offence and underscored the agency’s commitment to enforcing maritime regulations to safeguard lives and promote safety at sea.
Cam stated, “This outcome underscores the MCA’s unwavering commitment to taking appropriate action in response to blatant violations of maritime regulations. Such negligence jeopardizes not only safety but also the lives of many individuals. We want to convey a clear message that non-compliance with safety standards will not be tolerated, and those who flout regulations will face legal consequences.
