Captain drunk in charge of vessel in Belfast sacked, but avoids prison term

THE captain of a merchant vessel has lost his job after he was found to be drunk in charge of a ship at Belfast Harbour, a court has heard.

Estonian Juri Ting appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court, where he admitted a charge of excess alcohol by a master of a ship. The 50-year-old — whose address was given ‘unknown, Estonia’ — was handed a four-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years by District Judge Ken Nixon.

The court heard that at 6.40pm on Tuesday, Belfast Harbour Police were tasked to the Harbour Estate following reports that the captain of a vessel was unfit to control it.

When they attended, these suspicions were confirmed. Ting was arrested and taken to Musgrave police station, where he failed a breath test.

Defence counsel Sean O’Hare said Ting had now been sacked from his job. Revealing that Ting came before the court with a clear criminal record, Mr O’Hare said his client had been employed in the shipping industry since 1990 and had worked his way up to the position of master — a post he has held for four years.

Mr O’Hare also said that when arrested there was “no actual risk to the public”, Ting was not loading or unloading, and that the vessel was not due to leave Belfast until yesterday.

The barrister said that while Ting admitted he had been drinking, he had co-operated with police and accepted responsibility.

Mr O’Hare concluded by saying Ting would now be returning to Estonia where “he will try and rebuild what is left of his life”.

District Judge Ken Nixon said: “Taking account of all of the circumstances outlined, I am sentencing him to four months, which will be suspended for two years.”