Displaying items by tag: Ocean Youth Trust Northern Ireland Ltd
Sailing Charity Fined Over Record-Keeping Failures
#NEWS UPDATE - A Northern Irish sailing charity has been fined by a court for failing to keep proper records, following an investigation into a sinking incident two years ago.
BBC News reports that the activities of the Ocean Youth Trust Northern Ireland Ltd were examined by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) after its 70ft Oyster ketch, Lord Rank, hit rocks near Kinbane Head on the Antrim coast in June 2010 while taking part in a charity fundraiser.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, six people - including three presenters from Downtown Radio who had been broadcasting from the boat - were rescued from the vessel by RNLI lifeboat crews. No injuries were reported.
The MCA launched an inquiry into the trust's activities following the Lord Rank accident, and issued a formal caution to the skipper of the boat.
The trust had no charges brought against them in relation to the sinking of the Lord Rank.
Unrelated to that incident, the investigation subsequently uncovered omissions in the trust's logs and records on several days over a six-week period in 2009.
In court, a defence solicitor acting for the Ocean Youth Trust said it had accepted its failures and had taken steps to improve the running of its operation.
A fine of £250 out of a maximum £50,000 was imposed by the judge, who acknowledged the good work the charity had done with young people in Northern Ireland.
In a statement, the Ocean Youth Trust Northern Ireland Ltd said: “We thank all concerned and welcome the result. We are proud of our safety record and have taken over 10,000 young people to sea without injury.
"[The trust] is a charity which relies heavily upon volunteerism and the trustees wish to thank the legal team, staff, trainees, ports, government departments and the volunteers for their ongoing support.
"We look forward to a year of great excitement for the maritime community in Ireland.”
