Drunken Russian Captain Collides Freighter with Docked Vessel in Bremen Harbor

image Credits: Wikipedia

A recent report from Infomarine highlights an incident involving a Russian ship captain who collided with a stationary vessel while attempting to depart from Bremen,Germany,on Thursday evening. The mishap occurred at Terminal 1, fortunately resulting in no injuries but causing minor damage to both ships involved.The 55-year-old captain was at the helm of the coastal freighter Wilson Nanjing, which has a deadweight tonnage of 8,500.As he maneuvered away from the dock, his ship made contact with another vessel that was securely moored. When Bremen’s water police arrived on the scene to investigate, they detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the captain. He consented to undergo a breathalyzer test that revealed his blood alcohol concentration exceeded 1.6 per mille.

Consequently of these findings, authorities prevented him from continuing his journey and mandated further testing for accuracy. Additionally, they imposed a security deposit amounting to $6,000.

Currently under investigation for allegedly jeopardizing maritime safety by navigating under the influence of alcohol, this incident raises importent questions about accountability in shipping practices. According to maritime tracking service Vesseltracker—part of Wood Mackenzie—the Wilson Nanjing was indeed involved in this event.

Data sourced from AIS provider Pole Staer indicated that shortly after leaving Weserport Terminal 1 around 1800 GMT on Thursday evening,the vessel quickly returned back to its original docking point after just a brief departure.

This situation serves as an important reminder about safety protocols within maritime operations and emphasizes how crucial it is for captains and crew members alike to remain sober while at sea—an issue not limited just to one region but relevant across global waters where similar incidents could have dire consequences if left unchecked.