L'Ecume II sank with three crew on board after it was in collision with a freight ferry on December 8; two bodies were found, while a search and recovery operation continues for the missing third.

Andy Shearwood, a former Detective Chief Inspector with over 30 years of experience, has been appointed to lead an independent investigation into a fatal boat collision in Jersey.

Spending more than three decades with Thames Valley Police until March 2022, Mr Shearwood's last role with the force saw him lead a team of detectives and specialist support staff on the Major Crime Unit.

His qualifications include the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP 3), which covers homicide and major and organised crime.

The former DCI has now been appointed as the SIO of Operation Nectar, which has been set up to establish whether there was any criminal culpability following the sinking incident on December 8.

Two bodies have been found following a collision between Condor’s Commodore Goodwill and the fishing vessel L’Ecume II, while a third remains missing. 

States of Jersey Police (SoJP) will lead this investigation, supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, while Mr Shearwood will be aided by Detective Inspector Christina Maclennan, former Head of the Criminal Investigation Department at SoJP.

SoJP has confirmed that a further six detectives - beyond those already deployed - are being requested to ensure a comprehensive investigation can be undertaken.

This additional resource has been sought under mutual aid provisions which are coordinated by the National Police Coordinating Centre (NPoCC) as part of a national agreement between the 43 forces and the Crown Dependencies.

A spokesperson for SoJP said: "States of Jersey Police will be working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as part of an enforcement investigation, with a parallel independent safety investigation taking place and being led by the Bahamian Maritime Administration (as the flag state of the Commodore Goodwill)."

This separate safety investigation is being progressed by the Maritime Standards department within of Ports of Jersey, in conjunction with the Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Philippines as an interested party.