The wreck of the Claire Anne

Summary

A Freedom of Information request sought details on the costs, authorization, and ownership regarding the removal and disposal of the wreck of the MF Claire Anne from Peel Harbour. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total costs incurred, the authorization process, and the current legal status of the vessel, while withholding the owner's name for data protection reasons.

Key Facts

• The total cost for stabilisation and removal of the MF Claire Anne was £32,591.22.
• The vessel was lifted out on 25 May 2022 and dismantled at the Harbours car park on West Quay.
• No formal contract existed for the disposal works as Peel Plant Hire was the only licensed company on the island.
• The current owner is a UK resident, but their name is withheld due to data protection laws.
• The vessel has been arrested by the Harbours Division under Section 22 of the Harbours Act 2010.

Data Disclosed

• £32,591.22
• 25/05/2021
• 30/06/2021
• 16/08/2021
• 01/11/2021
• 22/11/2021
• 30/04/2022
• 06/05/2022
• 28/05/2022
• 31/05/2022
• 25 May 2022
• 03 August 2022
• 23 August 2022
• Section 22 of the Harbours Act 2010
• 2559765

Exemptions Cited

• Data protection purposes (withholding owner's name)

Original Request

1. What are the total costs to date incurred by all the Government Departments/ agencies involved, in the stabilisation and removal from Peel Harbour/Marina, of the MF Claire Anne? 2. Who authorised the dumping of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne onto the Department's cart park on West Quay and when did this occur? 3. What time limit has been imposed for the wreck to remain on the Department's Car Park? 4. A copy of the arrangements agreed with the contractor in relation to the ultimate disposal of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne. 5. A copy of the contract or contracts agreed with the contractor relating to all of the works described above including the agreed contract price. 6. Who is the current owner of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne? 4. What arrangements are in place for the recovery of all costs incurred by Government either from the owner, or, if this is the case, from the owner's insurance company?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Disposal Costs - Claire Ann SSR58264 25/05/2021 Oil PollutionResponse Sevices (IOM Hbrs staff) Oil pollution booms & absorbants Dive team & equipment Fire Brigade response & pumps 30/06/2021 Ace Hire - Fencing hire 16/08/2021 Jacksons - suction hose, clips, couplers - Claire Anne 16/08/2021 Jacksons - jubilee clip & hose - Claire Anne 01/11/2021 Peel Plant Hire - Wood disposal costs - Sept 22/11/2021 Peel Plant Hire - Strip wheel house, remove engine & accomodation 30/04/2022 Tels provision of skip for waste 06/05/2022 Peel Plant Hire Disposal of Derelict Boat - Claire A 28/05/2022 Laxey Towing Company Ltd Claire Ann - assist with lift out of 31/05/2022 IOM Heavy Crane Services ltd Claire Ann lift out Total cost: £32,591.22

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2559765 23 August 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 3 August 2022 and which states:

"1. What are the total costs to date incurred by all the Government Departments/ agencies involved, in the stabilisation and removal from Peel Harbour/Marina, of the MF Claire Anne? 2. Who authorised the dumping of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne onto the Department's cart park on West Quay and when did this occur? 3. What time limit has been imposed for the wreck to remain on the Department's Car Park? 4. A copy of the arrangements agreed with the contractor in relation to the ultimate disposal of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne. 5. A copy of the contract or contracts agreed with the contractor relating to all of the works described above including the agreed contract price. 6. Who is the current owner of what remains of the wreck of the Claire Anne? 7. What arrangements are in place for the recovery of all costs incurred by Government either from the owner, or, if this is the case, from the owner's insurance company?"

Our response to your request is as follows: 1. £32,591.22 (See Appendix 1 - Disposal Costs – Claire Ann SSR58264) 2. The Harbours car park next to the fishing compound on West Quay was identified as being a more suitable site for the breakup of the final section of hull after it was reduced to the waterline. Although no formal authorisation was required, due to the land being under Harbours responsibility, the work on this site was agreed by the Department of Infrastructure’s Minister at that time. The date of the lift out was the 25th May 2022.

1. No time limit has currently been set as a final agreement will need to be found for the disposal of the remainder of the hull.
2. A copy of the authorisation to dismantle the vessel is attached (See Appendix 2 – Letter to Peel Plant Hire Limited). There was never a formal contract due to Peel Plant Hire being the only company on Island licensed by DEFA to carry out vessel disposal. The vessel had the potential to contain quantities of problematic material so the works were carried out in phases at an agreed daily rate plus disposal costs.
3. There is no contract.
4. The current owner of the vessel is a UK resident but we cannot release the name for data protection purposes. The vessel has however been arrested by the Harbours Division under Section 22 of the Harbours Act 2010 and is therefore in the care of the Harbours Division.
5. Once the final figure for the refloatings, pollution clean-ups and ultimate breakup is known, the Department may be in a position to trace the owner and commence legal proceedings to recover the amount. Unfortunately it was impossible for the current owner to insure the vessel due to its condition (the vessel changed hands twice on a sight unseen basis during a short period). Please quote the reference number 2559765 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team