The second officer who admitted his actions were responsible for the death of a fisherman as a result of a ferry crash off Rosyth, Scotland, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, reduced to eight months, according to UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Pasquale Miccio admitted on March 24, 2016, in the High Court of Justiciary, Glasgow, that his actions or omissions were responsible for the death of Daniel McNeil who was a crew member of the fishing vessel Homeland in August 2010.
At the time, Miccio was serving as second officer aboard the MV Scottish Viking, a ferry owned and operated by Visemar di Navigazone Srl, which was on a regular service between Rosyth in Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
He was the navigating officer on August 5, 2010, when the Scottish Viking sailed from Rosyth at around 4.30pm.
At around 6.10pm, the lookout reported seeing fishing vessels ahead and to starboard and the second officer made a small alteration of course. The lookout continued to point out the proximity of the fishing vessels and at 6.35pm, a further slight alteration of course was made. Despite these warnings the second officer made no further alterations of course or speed, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports.
In the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge, his Lordship Lord Bannatyne said that Miccio, as the officer in charge of a large vessel, was responsible for the failures and omissions and had failed to take actions that would have prevented the fatal accident.
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