Marine / Opportune skipper awarded prize after quick thinking saves lives of crew
THE SKIPPER of the local whitefish trawler Opportune has been recognised for his outstanding seamanship in saving the lives of his entire crew after their vessel sank early last year.
Grant Irvine has been awarded the prestigious Lady Swaythling prize by national maritime charity the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, for showing outstanding preparedness, quick thinking and skilful seamanship.
Opportune was involved in an incident off the coast of Shetland on 24 March 2024, when Irvine was awoken by the ship’s mate to a report of flooding in the engine room.
Irvine investigated and, when he discovered the engine room was filled with white smoke and steam, took the decision that it was too dangerous for any of the crew to enter and attempt repairs.
Instead the skipper immediately headed to the wheelhouse, sounded the alarm and gathered his crew with lifejackets, before a Mayday call was transmitted.
Just moments later, the vessel lost power and began to roll heavily.
With all crew mustered Irvine directed the launch of the 10-person life raft, ensuring everyone boarded safely and transferring across essential survival equipment.
As soon as the equipment was loaded, the life raft’s painter was torn away and began to drift, leaving Irvine and the mate onboard.
Without hesitation he launched the life raft, ensuring he and the mate could escape before Opportune sank stern-first just 10 minutes later.
Approximately one hour later, two search and rescue helicopters arrived on scene and winched the crew to safety.
A subsequent accident investigation found that the vessel had suffered catastrophic water ingress, sinking rapidly.
Irvine’s sound judgement in keeping his crew out of the engine room and his calm and professional overseeing of a textbook abandon ship procedure were praised.
His use of a digital selective alarm was also described as “critical”, as the Mayday call had not been received by the coastguard.
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society chief executive Captain Justin Osmond described Irvine’s actions as “decisive” in a “fast-moving and life-threatening emergency”.
“His judgement and exceptional seamanship exemplify the very best qualities of a skipper at sea, and as such we are proud to recognise his actions with this year’s Lady Swaythling Trophy.”
A new Opportune arrived in the isles in March 2025, with Irvine telling Shetland News then that “at the end of the day it’s only a boat – it can be replaced”.
“At the time you just went into autopilot,” he said.
“You made sure that everybody was safe before we came off our boat.
“It’s one of those things that doesn’t really feel 100 per cent real that it actually happened. But I’m just glad that we all made it off and everybody’s still okay.”
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