Danish authorities detained the Portugal-flagged general cargo ship ‘Rix Partner’ and arrested its Captain, after he was found affected by alcohol. The ship was stopped in the Great Belt Strait off Denmark, at the late night of April 17th, following communication problems between the navy and the Russian Captain.
The ship was en route from Frederiksvaerk to Papenburg, Germany, at that time. According to international media reports, the Danish Navy observed the vessel sailing in ‘a suspicious pattern’, moving outside the recommended route. The attempted VHF communication with the Captain seemed ‘incoherent’ and the Defence Operations Centre suspected him of being drunk.
As such, a police boat was sent to stop and check the ship. The captain took a breathalyzer test, which was positive and the boat transported him ashore.
Local media report that the ‘Rix Partner’ was detained south of the Great Belt Bridge, expecting for a new captain onboard. However, AIS data as of 20 April show the ship is underway.
The Captain will be probably charged and fined for violation of navigational rules, but no further details are known so far.
Another Captain, also of Russian nationality, was involved in problems onboard the same ship, earlier this year. On 30 January, ‘Rix Partner’ ran aground upon entry to Vordingborg, Denmark, and the Captain was subsequently fired.
