The captain and owner of a Russian tanker has paid a UK court fine after being threatened with a seizure of the vessel.
Last June, master Vitaliy Trofimov was ordered to pay a total of £25,762 ($34,400) after pleading guilty to breaching the ISM Code at Hull Magistrates Court in a prosecution brought by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The case involved the 2,800-dwt Tecoil Polaris (built 1990).
MCA said concerns were raised about the captain's and crew’s competency as the vessel approached and berthed at Immingham.
An inspection found a catalogue of deficiencies in navigation and safety equipment, it added.
The vessel was subsequently detained and its safety certificate cancelled.
A second hearing about non-payment was due to be held on Thursday, but all fines and costs were handed over in full on Wednesday.
Captain Andrew Phillips, enforcement officer with MCA, said: "This sends out a clear message: if you don’t pay your fines and costs, we will come after you and we will – if we have to – use the law to seize your vessel or other assets to cover it."
MCA said at the time of the inspection that the vessel, listed as owned by Tecoil Shipping of Russia, would not be released from detention until the fines and costs were paid.
