CHRISTINA

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Drunken officer caused allision in Kiel Canal

Caused by the accidental reversal from manual to automatic operation by the attending 2nd officer, the "Christina" on Jan 10, 2015, around noon allided with pilings on the Kiel Canal at Audorf-Rade. The ship which had sailed from Swinoujscie on Jan 9, got out of control and hit several dolphins, one of which thereby was completely pushed under water. The 38 year-old Eastern European officer had appeared for duty on the bridge and had flipped the switch for the reversal to automatic operation a few minutes later without a reason, so that the canal helmsman was no longer able to direct the cargo ship along the curve. After the accident, the ship continued the journey towards Brunsbüttel. Meanwhile, the officials of the Water Police Brunsbuttel had been informed that the duty officer probably had been under the influence of alcohol. The police officers went on board once the ship had docked in Brunsbüttel at 6 p.m. and in fact found in the review that the 2nd officer was drunk. A breath test gave a value of 2.75 per thousand. The investigating judge ordered a blood sampling in the West Coast Hospital Brunsbuttel. Criminal proceedings were launched against the ship's officer and he was ordered by the prosecutor in Itzehoe to pay a security deposit equal to one month's salary. Since the freighter was now temporarily understaffed, the journey could be continued only with an exemption issued by the flag State after a port state control was carried out. The ship left Brunsbüttel on Jan 11 at 10.30 p.m. bound for St. Malo with an ETA of Jan 14.