Highland cruise liner accident logged with Health and Safety Executive after crew member airlifted for treatment
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A HIGHLAND accident that resulted in a man being airlifted to hospital in Aberdeen has been logged with health and safety officials.
Police initially received a report of a man having fallen from a ship at Saltburn Pier in Invergordon yesterday at 11am.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, is understood to be a member of crew of the liner Viking Mars, one of two cruise ships which called at the deep water port yesterday.
A Police Scotland spokesperson: “Around 11am on Friday, August 18, 2023, police received a report of a man having fallen from a ship at Saltburn Pier in Invergordon.
“Emergency services attended and the man was taken by helimed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
“The Health and Safety Executive has been made aware."
The The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.
It is tasked with "protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives".
The body's role includes public assurance working to ensure people feel safe where they live and work and in their environment.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said: "We received a call to attend an incident in Invergordon. We dispatched two ambulances, our trauma team, an air ambulance and a critical care paramedic to the scene. We airlifted one male patient in his 40s to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”
It's understood cruise operator Viking is working with local authorities to try and find out how the fall happened and has shared its good wishes for the man involved.
It's understood no other crew members or passengers were involved in the incident although details have yet to be confirmed.
The incident resulted in considerable disruption locally in a town which in peak times welcomes thousands of cruise liner passengers on a daily basis.
One eye-witness said yesterday : "The place is chaos with tourist buses unable to get in and out."
Viking Mars has accommodation for up to 930 passengers and is typically staffed with around 460 members of crew.
The 745ft vessel is classed as a small ship and was built in 2022.
She was due to depart at 5pm yesterday and is expected to make a return to the port next month.
The HSE has been contacted for comment.
Cruise liner business booming at Easter Ross port offering gateway to the Highlands
Passengers arriving at Invergordon are typically offered a variety of Highland tours which include trips to Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Inverness and Loch Ness.
SEE ALSO: Invergordon liner makes itself heard amidst horn backlash
Invergordon's record-breaking 2023 season under way with arrival
Invergordon's gateway to the Highlands status for many cruise operators has helped fuel record-breaking business.
Invergordon is included as a stop on one of its tours. Visitors considering the cruise are told: "Invergordon lies in the mountainous, heather-covered Scottish Highlands amid a patchwork of farmland. The small community celebrates itself with a series of stunning murals painted by local artists; a walking trail leads visitors to them all, passing colourful window flowerboxes along the way.
"Whisky is another mainstay here, produced in a local grain distillery. This charming port is the gateway to a breathtaking region that provides a fascinating glimpse into the days of warring clans, and into the legend of Nessie, the fabled monster of Loch Ness."
Shore excursions include a variety of optional itineraries with one including an Inverness scenic drive.
The visitor blurb states: "Explore 'Inversnecky', as Scotland's northernmost city on the banks of the River Ness is known locally."
