A UK dredger was holed by a barge it was towing when the tow line became fouled in the propeller shafts, an accident report has revealed.

The incident occurred on 9 April 2020 near Kinlochbervie, Scotland, when the 37-loa dredger Shearwater (built 1968) was immobilised when the cable to the 21-loa barge Agem One (built 1992) became entangled.

The Shearwater was damaged and breached, resulting in flooding, after repeated collisions with the Agem One, which was no longer under control, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said.