News

SKIPPER FOUR TIMES OVER DRINK/DRIVE LIMIT 

The Kathrin ran aground on the Goodwin Sands

The master of a vessel which ran aground on the Goodwin Sands and docked later in Hull was remanded in custody by Scunthorpe Magistrates today, (28 February) after pleading guilty to being four times over the legal drink drive limit whilst in charge of a ship. 

At the hearing today in Scunthorpe, Adrian Fericel, a Romanian national aged 45, was remanded to appear at Grimsby Crown Court .

The master was involved in incidents on the Goodwin sands on 12th February 2006 and New Holland on the River Humber on the 15th February 2006. 

On the 13th February, the owners of the Swiss registered vessel 'Kathrin' contacted Dover Coastguard to report that the vessel had grounded on the Goodwin Sands. 

Ten minutes after narrowly missing the East Goodwin Light Vessel, the `Kathrin' ran aground on the Goodwin Sands. The vessel remained aground for 20 minutes before re-floating itself and re-commencing it's journey to the north of England. Dover Coastguard was not contacted at any time during this incident. 

As a result the vessel was met at New Holland by a Port State Control Inspector from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Master was subsequently arrested by Humberside Police.

He was taken to Scunthorpe Police Station and asked to provide a sample of his breath for analysis. This showed level of alcohol in his breath of 140 microgrammes per microlitre of breath. This was about four times the legal limit. This is the highest recorded alcohol level in incidents that the MCA have had to deal with.