Fine for captain who failed to tell coast guard of incident

The captain of a huge cargo vessel who lost “effective control” of his ship off the Cork coast and came dangerously close to running aground, has been fined for failing to notify the coast guard of the incident.

Turkish national, Mehmet Kaya, was fined €1,250 after his solicitor entered a guilty plea on his behalf at Cork District Court yesterday.

In a case brought by the Department of Transport, Mr Kaya was charged with breaching a vessel traffic directive — namely of failing to immediately inform the Irish Coast Guard of a loss of manoeuvrability — on February 27 last.

The court was told that the Panamanian-registered Begonia G, a 140-metre 8,800 tonne vessel with 18 crew on board, was en route from Foynes to the Port of Cork with a cargo of fertiliser when it encountered engine difficulties some eight miles south of Baltimore at around 5.15pm on February 27 last.

Weather conditions at the time were poor — with a force five wind and a four metre swell in the area.

The vessel began to drift northwards towards the coast but the captain, who has over 20 years’ experience, failed to notify the coast guard of the situation.

Valentia Coast Guard subsequently became aware of the situation and managed to make contact with the vessel shortly after 7.15pm.

Department of Transport marine surveyor Eoghan O’Toole told Judge Olann Kelleher, the vessel, which had a vast amount of fuel on board, drifted to within four miles of Kedge Island, near Baltimore harbour.

Mr O’Toole said the ship’s crew restored engine power just before midnight before a tug sent from Bantry arrived on the scene.

The ship dropped anchor and made for the Port of Cork the next morning.

Mr O’Toole later boarded the vessel at the city quays and said Capt Kaya was fully co-operative, but didn’t seem to realise the gravity of the situation.

Mr Kaya’s solicitor, Dermot Conway, said his client, who was not in court, believed the ship’s engine had not stopped, but had simply de-clutched to facilitate an oil replacement operation.

Mr Conway said his client accepted that he should have contacted the Coast Guard.

The judge took in to account Mr Kaya’s guilty plea, and the fact the ship’s owners had to pay a €12,000 bill for the tug call-out.

He convicted Mr Kaya and imposed a €1,250 fine.