Sleepless skipper runs boat aground

A Scottish shrimper captain ran aground after exhaustion from days in court and nights on the water led him to fall asleep, a report released Tuesday said.

A preliminary report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said that the captain of the Oceana, who was not identified, had been getting about 2 hours of sleep daily for four days before the accident May 9, The Scotsman reported. He was a witness in a trial and was required to be in court every day, ready to testify when called.

"This routine continued for four days before the skipper fell asleep at the helm as Oceana was returning to Troon at the end of an overnight trip," the report said.

When the vessel ran aground outside the harbor, the captain had the boat on autopilot. He was alone on deck because the three men in the crew were processing the catch, the report said.

No one was injured, but about 50 gallons of fuel spilled.