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Inside Out investigates what happened the night a huge container ship ran aground on the Farne Islands sparking fears of an environmental disaster.

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The programme tracks down the owner of the Danio cargo ship to Poland, speaks exclusively to its鈥� captain and exposes a catalogue of errors which led the vessel to plough - at full steam - into the Farnes off the Northumberland coast.听听

Built in 2001, the ship was sailing from Perth to Antwerp six months ago with a cargo of timber.

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When it ran aground, a lifeboat was scrambled to the scene from Seahouses and as the weather worsened and the drama unfolded, wildlife wardens on the Farnes feared the worst.听听

National Trust Ranger, David Steel, says: "To have a boat like that run aground and obviously if it had started breaking up with fuel oil and the likes spilling into the sea鈥� it would have been devastating.鈥�

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Following the accident coastguard surveyor, Alan Thompson, detained the vessel at Blyth port. He tells Inside Out that - from the evidence they looked at - there was a serious failing of the ship鈥檚 safety management system.听听

He says: 鈥淗e was using an unapproved electronic chart plotter, which is basically a bit like your GPS for the car.鈥澨�

Alan says that, from the time the Danio left Perth to the time it went to ground, there were two positions on the chart.听听

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鈥淭hey basically said鈥︹�榳ell OK we鈥檙e sailing from Dundee and we鈥檙e going to Antwerp and we鈥檒l draw a line and we鈥檒l go the quickest way possible,鈥� 鈥�without really thinking.鈥澨�听

Alarm issues

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But, according to the programme, that doesn鈥檛 explain why no one spotted the Farne Islands and a flashing lighthouse.听

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All large ships have an alarm system which should ensure the look-out is awake and doing their job.听

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Alan tells the programme: 鈥淚f he鈥檚 fallen asleep it will alarm in the captain鈥檚 cabin and if the captain doesn鈥檛 acknowledge it, it will ring everywhere. Now the Danio did have a very basic bridge watch alarm, but it was switched off.鈥澨�

To find out why it was switched off Inside Out tracks down the German owner of the Danio to Poland where the vessel is being repaired.听听

Frank Dahl is keen to show his ship had a working watch alarm and stresses it was his company policy to use it. He makes it clear that he blames the captain and the first mate for the accident.听听

He tells the programme: 鈥淭he technique is perfect, it鈥檚 the humans that make mistakes鈥︹�� He subsequently fired the captain, Mr Tadeusz Dudek, and the first mate.听

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Speaking in broken English, Captain Dudek says: 鈥淚t is what he told in his statement and it looks like it is true.鈥�

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And he admits that if he had used the alarm system the accident could have been prevented. 鈥淵es I should be but I forgot鈥�. For sure this would not happen (if the alarm had been used)."

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Maritime law

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But can the ship鈥檚 owner sidestep all of the blame? According to maritime law they are also liable for unsafe management and operation.听

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Alan Thomson adds: 鈥淗e employs them, it is his responsibility as the operator and owner to supply certificated personnel who are trained and familiar with the operation of the vessel.鈥�

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Inside Out also reveals that 95% of Britain鈥檚 freight is shifted by sea and last year a third of all ships detained for serious breaches were found in the North East.听

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However British authorities have still to decide whether to bring criminal charges in the case of the Danio.听

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听on the 麻豆官网首页入口 News website.

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on the 麻豆官网首页入口 News website.

Forty-year-old John Todd from Newcastle upon Tyne has served short-term prison sentences throughout his adult life.

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John is trying to go straight with the help of the charity Reaching Out. It provides a volunteer mentoring service for male ex-offenders who have served sentences of 12 months or less in HMP Durham.

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As John celebrates his first adult birthday on the outside, Inside Out's Chris Connel follows his journey.

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听on the 麻豆官网首页入口 News website.

For more information about volunteering for the mentoring project contact: graeme.wilkinson@reachingoutproject.co.uk

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The postal address is Reaching Out Project c/o Northern Learning Trust Cheviot House Beaminster Way East Kingston Park Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE3 2ER.

How archaeologists and volunteers are unearthing new insights into the Battle of Flodden 500 years ago.

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These 'history detectives' have been digging at sites across north Northumberland including the supposed battlefield site next to Branxton village.

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on Chris Jackson's correspondent blog.