At Approx 10pm on 10th October 2017 MV Ruyter ran aground to the Northern part of Rathlin Island en route from Lemosov, Russia to Warrenpoint. The vessel contacted Belfast Coastguard and local RNLI Lifeboat was launched however the vessel managed to refloat a short time later reporting no damage. On arrival at Warrenpoint it was reported that deck cargo had shifted resulting in a list and then on further inspection damage and flooding had been sustained to the bow. The vessel berthed in Warrenpoint with the assistance of tugs and the Master was arrested and the vessel detained. Cargo of timber however continued to be unloaded at Warrenpoint.

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Captain Aleksandr Lakovotsov received two charges brought by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and appeared at Armagh court pleading guilty. The first charge was that two rules had been broken with respect to keeping a proper lookout in order to judge any risk of collision. Secondly that the Captain had failed to provide sufficient lookout during the hours of darkness. Captain Aleksandr Lakovotsov was fined £1000 and relieved of his command.

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The dutch registered, MV Ruyter left Warrenpoint on 27th October 2017 bound for Belfast and berthed on the ship repair quay awaiting repairs to be carried out following inspections by MCA Surveyors.

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Here are some images captured of the MV Ruyter and other vessels in Warrenpoint on 23-10-17...