British Crew Member Ordered Detained by Swedish Court Over Deadly Collision – Report

 

Reuters  December 16, 2021

STOCKHOLM, Dec 16 (Reuters) – A Swedish court ordered a British crew member of the ship Scot Carrier to be remanded in custody on Thursday, following a collision earlier this week that left one crew member of a Danish barge dead and another missing, TT Newsagency reported.

The court detained him on suspicion of causing death through negligence, maritime drunkenness, and negligence in maritime traffic.

The suspect only admitted one count of negligence in maritime traffic, and denied all the others, according to TT.

Neither the prosecutor nor the suspect’s defense lawyer could be immediately reached.

At least one person, a Danish crew member from the 55-meter barge Karin Hoj, died in the collision with the 90-meter Scot Carrier, which occurred in fog and darkness off the Danish island of Bornholm in the early hours of Monday.

The court ordered him detained on the highest level of suspicion in the Swedish legal system, as the prosecutor had requested.

The Swedish Coast Guard said on Thursday that it planned to salvage the ship on Friday after it is towed to Denmark.

(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021.

Scot Carrier Shipowner Gives Details of Events After Fatal Collision with Barge

Mike Schuler

December 14, 2021

M/V Scot Carrier shipowner confirms the cargo ship didn’t turn around for up to 25 minutes after its fatal collision with a barge.

The owner of the M/V Scot Carrier, which was involved in a fatal collision with a barge Monday off the coast of Sweden, is offering new details about what took place on board the ship after the collision as the investigation looks into possible criminal acts.

The MV Scot Carrier, a 2018-built general cargo ship, collided with the 55-meter barge ‘Karin Hoj’ off the island of Bornholm in fog early Monday morning, causing the barge to capsize. One crew member from the barge is dead and the other is missing.

Two crew members on the British cargo ship have been found to be over the legal limit for alcohol and are in police custody.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority is reportedly investigating several suspected crimes, including negligence in maritime traffic, causing death through negligence, and marine intoxication. Some reports have also depicted the incident as a maritime hit and run.

Scotline Marine Holdings Limited, as owner and managers of the Scot Carrier, issued a statement Tuesday providing some details regarding the events following the collision. According to the company, following the collision the barge’s EPIRB system was activated, prompting Swedish authorities to contact the Scot Carrier for further information. However, the vessel had sailed on and didn’t alter course to return for up to 25 minutes after the collision, raising questions about who knew what and when.

“The 2nd Officer, who was on the bridge at the time requested the Master to come to the bridge of the ‘Scot Carrier’ where he reported contact with the Swedish Coastguard,” the company said.

“Once all crew members had been accounted for and an initial damage assessment completed, the Scot Carrier returned to the location of the incident and launched a rescue boat to participate in the search and rescue operation. It is understood that the time between the incident and the Scot Carrier altering course to the location of the incident was under 25 minutes.”

With regards to the two crew members exceeding the Swedish legal limit for alcohol, Scot Marine Holdings said they “have a strict drug and alcohol policy in place and have a zero-tolerance for any breaches that occur.”

The Scot Carrier is now alongside in the Port of Ystad, Sweden and the crew and shipping company are co-operating fully with the investigation, which is being undertaken by the Swedish, Danish and British authorities.

The company said more information will be provided as it becomes available.