FEARS were sparked about port safety after two incidents in Milford Haven waterway on Monday.

A state of emergency was declared around lunchtime when the 60-tonne Hubberston pilot boat started to take on water as it was preparing to head out to sea.

The four-man crew of the Hubberston managed to beach the vessel at Watwick Beach before another pilot boat, the Hakin, was able to come to its aid, supporting it until the sea truck arrived to transport it to Pembroke Port.

It was then repaired and is now back in use.

Milford Haven harbourmaster, Mark Andrews, confirmed the men were evacuated and there were no injuries.

Port Authority boss, Ted Sangster, said the Hubberston got into trouble because a ancillary sea water cooling pipe had split.

At about 7.45pm the same night, Milford Haven Port Authority had to record a near miss' when the 12,800 tonne fuel tanker Cumbrian Fisher suffered from engine failure when heading in to the port to berth at Chevron jetty.

When the engine cut out the crew lowered an anchor and radioed for support, at which point a tug and a pilot were launched.

Mr Sangster confirmed that investigations are underway into both incidents.

Eye witness Kevin Fitzmaurice-Brown, who saw the beached vessel, said it increased his fears over safety issues.

He told the Mercury: "We have had a number of incidents in recent years and it seems their track record is getting worse as are fears about safety in the Haven.

"It's terrifying and it's little wonder the port authority won't release its risk assessments."

Concerned resident Alison Hardy, who has been campaigning to get the port authority to release the risk assessments, said: "These things will just go on happening. Nobody is in control of the sea or the waves and there will always be human error.

"How can they tell us LNG shipping will be okay, and it will be safe? These incidents make it all the more important that the safety reports are released."

At the time of going to press, the port authority was preparing a full statement to answer these fears, but Mr Sangster told the Mercury: "Many of the comments you've mentioned are not relevant to these incidents. It is business as usual at the port."

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