MCA tug runs aground, OOPS

[orion21]

Court appearance for skipper after Anglian Sovereign runs aground
The skipper of the coastguard tug Anglian Sovereign is expected to appear in court in Shetland after the vessel sparked off a major pollution incident on Saturday evening.

The vessel, which patrols Orkney and Shetland, ran aground in strong winds on the isle of Oxna, west of Burra, Shetland. The collision damaged fuel tanks, resulting in a spillage of approximately 200 tonne of fuel oil, and ripped the vessel's hull.

It is understood the skipper was breathalysed and arrested after the incident.

 

[Oldhand]

If you had to patrol the Orkney and Shetland Isles at sea for a living you might fail a breathalyser test too... but I guess what must be a very boring job is no excuse.

 

[drawp]

I hope the skipper and all the crew were wearing life jackets!

 

[bilbobaggins]

.....Don't condone being 'drunk in charge' of a vehicle; don't condone getting caught, either. Makes one wonder what his crew-colleagues were doing, letting it happen.....

What think ye? Does a small-craft crew owe a duty of care and/or responsibility towards their skipper?