Working Conditions Aboard the Stenberg

In a notable ruling delivered on January 20, 2024, a court in Gothenburg has acquitted a Latvian captain, previously charged with sailing under the influence, stemming from an incident involving the tanker 'Stenberg' on December 16, 2014. The tanker was en route from Ventspils to Stenungsund, carrying a substantial cargo of 15,000 tonnes of naphtha, when a Swedish pilot boarded the vessel off the Hälleberget pilot station. Upon boarding, the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to rouse the captain, ultimately leading him to anchor the vessel and alert the Coast Guard. Upon arrival, Coast Guard officials determined that the captain's blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit, which in Sweden is set at 1.0 per mille. A subsequent test recorded a blood alcohol measurement of 1.2 per mille. However, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate that the captain was over the legal limit at the moment the ship crossed into Swedish waters. Consequently, he was acquitted of all charges. Legal sources indicate that the prosecutor may pursue an appeal, arguing that the captain should be convicted for at least 'normal' alcohol sailing violations.

Early on January 16, 2014, at approximately 5 a.m., an incident occurred involving the container vessel 'Wes Janine' in the Northwest anchorage area off Brunsbüttel. The vessel went adrift due to tidal currents and subsequently allided with the tanker 'Stenberg', which was anchored to the west, also waiting for a transit through the Kiel Canal. 'Wes Janine' had been positioned to enter the canal since 2 a.m. When the collision transpired, the anchor chains from both vessels became entangled, severely impacting the operation of 'Wes Janine', as the 'Stenberg's' chain wrapped around the rudder, propeller, and shaft of the container ship. Tugs 'Wolf' and 'Bugsier 14' were securing the 'Wes Janine' at the time of the incident, which also resulted in damage to three containers onboard. Later that day, the salvage vessel 'Taucher Otto Wulf 3' arrived on-site to address the situation, deploying divers to weld off the entangled chain. Additionally, the police boat 'Schwansen' participated in the operation. Meanwhile, the 'Stenberg', which was en route from Ijmuiden to Gdansk, managed to enter the Brunsbüttel lock of the Kiel Canal around 2 p.m., leaving behind its entire anchor chain while 'Wes Janine' remained moored at the anchorage. Once the entangled chain was cleared, arrangements were made to tow 'Wes Janine' to Cuxhaven for further inspection. Notably, the 'Wes Janine' had departed from Strom Quay in Bremerhaven at 8:40 p.m. on January 15, heading for St. Petersburg. An investigation by the Police Brunsbüttel was initiated to examine why the crew of 'Wes Janine' failed to recognize that their vessel was drifting. For images of the 'Stenberg' without its anchor in Brunsbüttel, visit the links: http://nok-schiffsbilder.de/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=41542&cid=6 and http://nok-schiffsbilder.de/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=41541.

On December 16, 2013, the captain of the tanker 'Stenberg' was apprehended in Swedish waters amid allegations of operating the vessel under the influence. The tanker was making its way from Ventspils, Latvia, to Stenungsund, Sweden, carrying a cargo of 15,000 tons of naphtha. Early that morning, upon the pilot's arrival on board, it became apparent that the captain was incapacitated and unable to effectively navigate the ship. The pilot promptly decided to drop anchor and contacted the Swedish Coast Guard for assistance. Following a breathalyzer test, it was determined that the captain had a blood alcohol concentration of 1.2 per mille. Subsequently, the Coast Guard initiated an investigation into the incident and passed the matter onto prosecutors. The captain was taken into custody in Uddevalla and is scheduled to be interrogated by the Coast Guard on December 17. For further information, follow the Swedish report [here](http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=104&artikel=5735732).