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Tyne dredger guide captain ' over limit'

Started by Guest_Steve Ellwood_* , Nov 05 2009 09:13 PM

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#1 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 05 November 2009 - 09:13 PM

Might be of interest to members on Tyneside - this from the Shields Gazette @ http://www.shieldsga...n-39.5800775.jp

Quote


Tyne dredger guide captain ' over limit' - court

Published Date:
05 November 2009
By By Lisa Nightingale

A SEA captain was today accused of being drunk as he guided a massive dredger up the Tyne ahead of work on the second Tyne Tunnel.

Caj Kristian Eklund was in charge of the Ede Wrestler tug, which helped pull the 280m-long Eide barge into its berthing slot at Riverside Quay in South Shields, yesterday.

But concerns were raised the 50-year-old was under the influence of alcohol during the piloting procedure.

Police were called and after being spoken to by officers from Northumbria Police's Marine section the captain – believed to be Scandanavian – was charged with transport/unfit drink under the railways and transport safety act 2003.

Eklund, from Simreshamn, Sweden, made no plea to the offence of being a
master of a vessel at sea after comsuming excess alcohol.

He was remanded in custody until November 10 when he will reapear at the
same court.

The captain is believed to be with a company contracted to guide the submersible deck cargo barge carrying the dredger.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police, said: "We can confirm a 50-year-old was arrested and later charged with transport/unfit drink under the railways and transport safety act 2003."

The 93m-long dredger will be used to create a channel for the second vehicle tunnel under the river between Jarrow and East Howdon. It is expected work will begin on Sunday.

This morning the dredger was floated into the river from the submerged barge.

The barge was lowered to more than 11 metres below the surface in order to float off the dredger and associated equipment.

It is thought about 400,000 cubic metres of sediment will be removed from the trench to allow concrete tunnel elements, already constructed at Walker Dry Dock, to be immersed early next year.

The second Tyne Tunnel is expected to cost £260m to create and is aimed to ease congestion during peak times at the current Tyne Tunnel.

Work is due to be completed by the end of 2010 after work fell behind schedule earlier this year.

#2 Bob.YTS Skipper

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Posted 06 November 2009 - 09:48 PM

Work might not have fallen behind Steve if they didnt have late licensing and afternoon opening hours.

#3 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 07 November 2009 - 12:21 AM

Quote

Work might not have fallen behind Steve if they didnt have late licensing and afternoon opening hours.

Hi Bob

Lots of 'old salts' saying that this was nothing compared to the past, but what is a Pilot to do if the Skipper is so pissed that he cannot get out of his bunk. Plus we are talking a BIG piece of kit here  :cheers:

Regards

Steve E.

#4 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 10 November 2009 - 07:39 PM

Courtesy of the Shields Gazette @

Quote


Tug captain's case sent to crown court

Published Date: 10 November 2009

A SEA captain accused of being drunk as he guided a massive dredger up the Tyne has had his case sent to crown court.

Caj Kristian Eklund was in charge of the Ede Wrestler tug, which helped pull the 280m-long Eide barge into its berthing slot at Riverside Quay in South Shields, last Thursday, to begin work on the new Tyne Tunnel.

The barge was carrying the 93m-long Vesalius, which has started to dredge the river.

But concerns were raised the 50-year-old was under the influence of alcohol during the piloting procedure.

Police were called and after being spoken to by officers from Northumbria Police's Marine section the captain - from Simreshamn, Sweden - was charged with transport/unfit drink under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

Eklund appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates Court today, where he entered no plea, and magistrates declined jurisdiction.

Eklund was originally remanded in custody, but was later bailed by a judge in chambers. He is now staying at a hotel in the borough.

The dredger is being used to create a channel for the second vehicle tunnel under the river between Jarrow and East Howdon.

Eklund will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, January 5.

#5 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 04 February 2010 - 09:40 AM

Update on this case courtesy of The Shields Gazette @ http://www.shieldsga...eing.6039418.jp

Typical Journalist - story is entitled 'Tyne Dredger Skipper' yet the man in question was in fact the Skipper of a TUG (EIDE WRESTLER). I immediately thought about Hedwin (Port of Tyne Dredger) when I read the headline and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will make that mistake.

Seems a little strange that you can plead guilty and THEN dispute the charge, surely if you dispute the facts you would please not guilty. Must be the British Legal system these days

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Tyne dredger skipper admits being drunk

Published Date:
03 February 2010
By James Moore

A SWEDISH sea captain has admitted being drunk in charge of a ship during a key operation on the River Tyne.

Caj Kristian Eklund was the master of the Eide Wrestler, a tug which helped deliver a 93m dredger to dig a channel for the second Tyne Tunnel, between Jarrow and East Howdon, on November 4 last year.

While the 280m-long barge was being manoeuvred into its berthing slot at Riverside Quay in South Shields, suspicions arose that Eklund was drunk.

He was reported by a river pilot, and a subsequent breath test revealed he was more times three times over the limit.

Eklund, 51, from Simreshamn in Sweden, had 118mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, well over the legal limit of 35.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Eklund admitted being drunk in charge of the ship.

However, his barrister, Tim Gittins, said he disputed some of the facts, which will now be determined at another hearing next month.

As captain of the ship, Eklund admits he was always in charge while on board, but he claims that, at the time of the offence, he was not responsible for control of the vessel.

Mr Gittins said: "He pleads guilty on the basis that he was the master of the ship and therefore on duty at all times while on board.

"He had had one or two cans of beer before retiring to his bed in the early hours of the morning.

"After the ship had docked on the Tyne, he had drunk more cans of beer.

"The ship had been docked for nearly two hours before the police came on board and arrested him."

Mr Gittins said the pilot had described the captain as, "unresponsive and that he kept leaving the bridge for unexplained lengths of time", but Mr Gittins said the first mate was in effective control of the ship at all times.

He said: "Mr Eklund was going between his computer, off the bridge, checking e-mails and dealing with logs because he wasn't in hands-on charge of the vessel.

"He accepts that being on duty and in charge of the vessel, even in dock, he has a duty to remain sober, and he clearly didn't."

Prosecutor Peter Gair said the basis of plea was not accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said: "He couldn't stand without leaning on the walls or machinery."

Judge David Wood ordered Eklund to return to Newcastle on March 5 for a hearing to determine the facts of the case and for sentence.

Eklund was granted bail, but told the offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

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