Russian Oil Tanker Captain Slapped with £25,761 Fine for Safety Failures
The Captain of a Russian oil tanker has been hit with a whopping £25,761.99 fine at Hull Magistrates Court today (June 14, 2018) for major safety breaches. Vitaliy Trofimov, master of the 85-metre tanker TECOIL POLARIS, pleaded guilty to serious failings under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.
Safety Blunders Put Ship and Crew at Risk
The vessel was due to load 1,665 tonnes of lubrication oil but was found alarmingly unsafe. Humber Port Authority raised red flags about the crew’s competence as TECOIL POLARIS approached Immingham Docks on June 5, arriving from Hamina, Finland. MCA inspectors swooped the next morning and uncovered a catalogue of disasters:
- Missing correct navigation charts and voyage plan
- Incorrect stability calculations
- Broken navigation equipment
- Defective lifesaving gear
The vessel was immediately detained and its safety certificate revoked.
Captain Accepts Blame, Court Demands Heavy Penalty
During investigation, Captain Trofimov admitted to the glaring shortcomings. He was fined £1,400 and ordered to cough up £24,361.99 in costs. The District Judge laid into the Captain, saying:
“Many of the failures were down to yourself. You are responsible for all onboard and those on the high seas, that is why this is high culpability.”
Authorities Send a Strong Warning
MCA Lead Investigator Mark Flavell slammed the Captain’s “complete disregard for safety,” warning of the terrible potential consequences. He said:
“This ship was carrying a huge load of oil headed for Finland, which could have caused disastrous human and environmental damage. We will prosecute anyone who puts lives and nature at risk like this. There is no room for complacency when it comes to safety.”
The tanker remains detained and won’t sail again until fines and costs are fully paid.
