Russian Sailor Gets Drunk On Rum, Runs Cargo Ship Into Coast Of Scotland

A Russian sailor who was drunk on half a litre of rum was responsible for a cargo ship running aground at full speed on the Scottish coast.

An investigation found that the 36-year-old had consumed the alcohol in his cabin before taking up his post as the only officer on night watch.

He was on watch when the Lysblink Seaways 423ft ship, carrying a cargo of paper from Belfast to Skogn in Norway, hit rocks off the west coast of Scotland near Kilchoan on February 18.

An investigation said the officer had “become inattentive due to the effects of alcohol consumption”.

The ship remained stuck on the Scottish coast for two days and was so badly damaged that it had to be scrapped, while 25 tonnes of marine gas oil entered the water.

A report on the incident from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found that the ship’s navigational alarm system had not been switched on.

“Although a radar watch alarm had sounded every 6 minutes, the somnolent officer was able to reset the alarm without leaving his chair,” the report said.

Despite a zero-tolerance policy on bringing alcohol on board the vessel, the report revealed there was a store on the ship with spirits, beer and wine.

It said: “Records showed that the bonded store was regularly replenished, and empty beer, wine and spirit bottles and cartons found on board after the accident indicated significant levels of alcohol consumption by the crew.”

The officer in question no longer works for the company that ran the cargo ship.

(Picture: Sky News)