Captain arrested after sailing into Dundee drunk

A SHIP’S captain was behind bars today after allegedly being caught drunk at the wheel of his ship in a Scottish port.

A ship's captain has been arrested after being caught drunk behind the wheel of a vessel in Dundee harbour. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Andrejs Borodins was arrested after a pilot at Dundee harbour came on board the Norwegian vessel, the Frifjord, to guide it into the quayside.

The pilot alerted police after immediately suspecting Borodins was under the influence of alcohol.

Police were waiting at the waterside when the ship, a 1,212 gross tonne general cargo ship, docked and Borodins was arrested on Monday afternoon.

He then appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court accused of sailing the vessel on the River Tay while almost four times the legal limit.

Prosecutors say that while being the professional master of the ship, which is registered in the Bahamas and was en-route from Kristiansund in Norway to Canada, he had a breath alcohol reading of 137 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Russian-speaking Borodins appeared in the dock in private before Sheriff Charles Macnair on petition where he was assisted by an interpreter from Edinburgh.

Solicitor Nicola Brown made no plea or declaration on his behalf and applied for bail but it is understood that, as Borodins’ passport is still on the ship and he also does not have a UK address, the Crown opposed the motion for bail.

Sheriff Macnair continued the case for further examination and remanded him in custody.

It is expected Borodin will remain behind bars on remand for seven days before being brought back for a second appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court next week.

A court source said it is understood the Frifjord will be forced to stay in Dundee Harbour until a replacement master is found to pilot the ship on its return journey to Norway, as Borodin was the only master on board.