Tanker skipper must pay £25,000 over safety breaches

THE SKIPPER of a Russian oil tanker must pay more than £25,000 after admitting a series of safety breaches. Inspectors boarded the

in Immingham and found it did not have correct charts, navigation equipment was not working and there were defects

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said Vitaliy Trofimov showed “complete disregard for the safety of his vessel and crew”.

Humber Port Authority reported concerns about the master and crew’s competency as with lifesaving equipment. the vessel, coming from Finland, approached last Tuesday and berthed. An inspection revealed a “catalogue of deficiencies” in navigation and safety equipment, together with “significant” noncompliance with the International Safety Management Code.

At Hull Magistrates’ Court, Trofimov pleaded guilty to serious non-compliance of safety requirements. He was fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £24,361 in costs.

The ship will not now be released until the costs and fines are paid.

The MCA’s lead investigator Mark Flavell said the captain “showed complete disregard for the safety of his vessel and crew operating the vessel”.

He added: “The intention was for this vessel to carry 1,665 tons of oil to Finland, which could have had disastrous human and environmental consequences.”