LANGUAGE barriers have been cited as partly to blame in a critical report into the capsize of the trawler Saint Christophe I in Dartmouth harbour earlier this year.

Three French trawlers sought refuge in the port during bad weather in March. Two of them, the Saint Christophe I and Sagittaire, tied up alongside South Embankment during a high tide.

When the tide receded, both grounded. The Sagittaire managed to return to the Town Jetty, where she had earlier tied up alongside the third trawler, the Maranatha 2, but the Saint Christophe I capsized and sank.

A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch concluded that the South Embankment had limitations for the vessels at low water however there were no procedures in place for the use of the berth.

Dart Harbour Navigation Authority has begun a full risk assessment review and will report to the board on any issues or amendments required.

It is also clear that although harbour staff did their best, there was less than total clarity in communications between the French speaking crews of the vessels and the English speaking DHNA staff.

The report notes that Dart Harbour should have taken steps to ensure the skippers understood the limitations of South Embankment; in addition, the report states the skippers should not have allowed the port officers to depart until they had a clear understanding of the minimum depth to be expected.

The harbour authority is now introducing technologies to enable staff to clearly communicate in any of the likely languages that might be required in exceptional circumstances like this and a remote third party service provider is being engaged to provide 24/7 emergency language cover for the future.

Dart Harbour chairman Neil Hockaday said: ‘DHNA accepts the critical comments made in the report and is responding with remedial action to address the concerns expressed.

‘In addition we will update the Hydrographic Office Admiralty Sailing Directions with information about the use of South Embankment so the exact nature of its conditions are readily available to all visitors.

‘As a further step in this direction – Dart Harbour has volunteered itself to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for a Port Marine Safety Code Health Check to take place in 2017.’

And he added that the board is satisfied the deputy harbour master, Nick Clarence, correctly consulted and reported issues arising from the events as they unfolded to the harbour master, Rob Giles, in accordance with policies and procedures.

Mr Hockaday concluded: ‘It’s important to remember that the French crews were safely rescued due to the swift response of the emergency services, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and harbour authority staff and pollution was minimal.’

Mr Giles resigned on June 6.