Drunken Master Suspected in Another Ship Grounding Off Sweden

Photo: Swedish Coast Guard

A cargo ship which ran aground Friday night off Helsingborg, Sweden has been refloated with no pollution reported, the Swedish Coast Guard said Sunday.

The vessel, loaded with 5,000 tonnes of wheat, was headed for the port of Helsingborg when it grounded at 11:15 p.m. local time on Friday night, the Coast Guard reported.

Prior to the ground, vessel traffic services had tried to alert the Master that this ship was on the wrong course, but to no avail. A tugboat also attempted to stop the vessel but was also unsuccessful and the ship ran aground on a sand bank.

The Coast Guard conducted a sobriety test on the Master and subsequently handed the case over to the police on suspicion that he was under the influence.

gCaptain can confirm that the vessel is the Antigua Barbuda-flagged BBC Lagos.

The Coast Guard reported Sunday that the vessel had been refloated.

No pollution or injuries have been reported as a result of the incident. A survey was expected to take place in port. 

The grounding comes just a few days after the car carrier Makassar Highway was towed safely to port after running aground off Loftahammar, Sweden on July 23rd. In that case, the master was also arrest on suspicion of being under the influence.

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