Alcohol Help

The Master of a coaster was brought before a Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being found to be three times over the prescribed limits for alcohol when preparing to sail. Oleg Syrovatko, a Ukrainian national, pleaded guilty to one breach of the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003.

The MV Helen was unloading grain at Southampton on the 8th January 2008 when it was boarded by Port State Control Inspectors from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). The Inspectors had previously discovered problems with the hours of work records kept onboard and were conducting a thorough review of these records when it was noted that Captain Syrovatko appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Inspectors requested the assistance of the police, who administered a breath test, which Syrovatko subsequently failed.

The vessel had been preparing to sail and had its gangway raised and main engine running, but Captain Syrovatko, who is Master of the MV Helen, was arrested and taken to a local police station. At the station Syrovatko provided a specimen on an Intoximeter that showed he was about three times the prescribed limit at 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. In mitigation, it was explained to the Court that Syrovatko has now been sacked by his employers and is now unemployed with little prospect of work.

Captain Syrovatko pleaded guilty when he appeared before Southampton Magistrates on 9th January 2008 and was fined a total of £500. If the fine cannot be paid then he faces up to 14 days in jail.

Captain Jeremy Smart, Head of Enforcement at the MCA, stated:

"This matter came to light when problems with the vessel’s hours of work records were discovered. This case is the second such offence in the Southampton area in the last month. Seafarers should be aware that if found to be under the influence of alcohol when on duty onboard a ship, then they face arrest and being brought before the courts. Similarly ship owners should note that if this occurs and the vessel manning subsequently falls below the required levels then, as happened in this case, the vessel will be detained for under manning."

Maritime And Coastguard Agency