Thursday, June 26, 2014

BULK CARRIER SKIPPER DRUNK

Last year  LittleDarwin  pointed  out   that  by  and  large  newspapers  no  longer cover shipping  movements . It  detailed the  number of  interesting vessels coming  into Darwin , large  tankers  seemingly  being escorted  by  Navy  vessels, unnoticed  by  the  local  media. We  harked  back   to designated  Shipping Reporters  in  Sydney who  many   years  ago kept  close  watch on  all  vessels , large and small , coming  into port , gathering  many  great yarns. As a result of  that  post, the ABC  started  a  fortnightly shipping  news  report.

Many ships  from all over  the  world  come into Townsville  and  rarely get a mention . The  nautical  series  following  this  post  is  a small indication, me hearties,  of  what  is  floating by the desk bound reporters who keep a greater watch on vaporous  social   media  than  the  local  waterfront .

Photographed  earlier  this year  in  Townsville   is   the  above Maltese  bulk carrier , Adfines East  , which  was written up  in  an  American newspaper in April last year  as  "the  troubled cargo ship" .  The Oregonian reported that the skipper  of the vessel, Russian Valeriy Sharykin,62, had admitted to  being drunk while in charge of the vessel .  Members of  the US Coast Guard  carrying  out  a  routine search  had  noticed that the captain  seemed intoxicated .Tested,  his blood- alcohol was  four times over  the limit.

The newspaper carried a  photograph of him handcuffed . In  court he pleaded guilty, was sentenced to two years' probation during which time he  may not sail in US waters. On  top of  that , he had to pay $1000 to the court and another $1000 to a community alcohol  treatment facility . A spokesman for the Coast Guard said  the skipper was also  banned  from operating  a  jet ski on  the river .While the captain was still in custody, his vessel, fully loaded and  ready for departure, broke free from  moorings  and drifted some 1.5 miles into Columbia River, The  crew managed to start the engine and drop  anchor. The  chief officer tried to  take the vessel back to  the terminal, but it ran  aground on Davis Bar.

The  620ft long  bulk carrier    waited   for a  new skipper to be flown  in  to  take  over   control. There  are a few questions the  local  media might like to follow up. Was  the skipper ever in  charge of runs  to Australia  through the Great Barrier Reef?  Did   he  make  any  trips to Australia while he was  barred  from  plying US waters ?  There are  other questions , but  that  is  the  job of  the  local reporters