Master of Cypriot cargo ship on drink charge after Danish grounding

Master of Cypriot cargo ship on drink charge after Danish grounding
Gary Dixon 27 May 2022 https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/master-of-cypriot-cargo-ship-o...

Captain held onshore after Leila got stuck outside harbour at Frederiksvaerk

The captain of a Cypriot cargo vessel has been held in Denmark on a charge of drink-driving.

The unnamed seafarer was picked up ashore after his ship, the 1,260-dwt Leila (built 1989), went aground outside Frederiksvaerk on Wednesday.

North Zealand Police received a report of the incident in the evening.

The Danish Navy was called into action after police requested assistance to board the Leila.

A dinghy was sent from the navy ship MHV 905 Asko, with two police officers on board.

Naval deputy commander Mikael Olesen said in a statement: “We arrived with the dinghy at Frederiksvaerk around 11.30 pm, where we picked up the two officers from the North Zealand Police and sailed them out to the cargo ship.

“They were on board for 45 minutes, and had the captain with them.”

The police report stated that the master was assessed as under the influence of alcohol.

He was arrested and charged with drink-driving, after which he was taken to hospital for blood sampling to determine his exact blood alcohol level.

“The ship, which was not immediately damaged by the grounding, is now awaiting towing,” the statement added.
No pollution reported

An armed forces helicopter also flew over the site and the dinghy was checked for pollution. Nothing was observed in the water.

Olesen said the Leila was aground in 2.2 metres of water after having not correctly followed the fairway on its way out of the port.

The ship is listed as owned by Cyproservus of Limassol in Cyprus.

The company could not immediately be contacted.

The vessel has had no port state control detentions on its record since 2006.