- Phone Distraction Blamed for Ali Aykin Grounding Incident.
- Watch Officer Faces Negligence Charges in Swedish Grounding.
- Ali Aykin Grounding Sparks Legal Action, Safety Review.
A deck officer on the bulk carrier Ali Aykin is in hot water, facing serious charges of gross negligence after the ship ran aground off the Swedish coast last month. Prosecutors claim that the officer was distracted by his cell phone and neglected to use a functioning sonar depth sounder while navigating. This incident has raised fresh alarms about maritime safety and the need for better operational discipline, reports Nautical Voice.
Incident Overview: Grounding in the Øresund Strait
The grounding took place on May 25, as the Ali Aykin was making its way from Gdansk, Poland, to Setubal, Portugal. Around 12:15 AM, the vessel missed the entrance to the shipping channel in the Øresund Strait and began drifting northwest. By 1:00 AM, it had run aground on a marked shoal just south of the Øresund Bridge.
Carrying about 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel, the situation prompted a swift response from Swedish authorities to prevent any potential environmental disaster. Salvage efforts faced challenges due to flooding in one of the ballast tanks, which delayed the initial attempts to free the ship.
Successful Salvage Operation
Despite the early hurdles, salvage tugs managed to refloat the vessel during the night of June 4–5. The Ali Aykin was then towed to a nearby port for further inspections to ensure that any remaining risks were handled safely.
Legal Action and Allegations
The watch officer on duty at the time of the incident has been arrested and charged with gross negligence in maritime traffic. Prosecutors allege that the officer failed to keep a proper lookout, didn’t use a working sonar depth sounder, and was reportedly using his mobile phone during the critical moments leading up to the grounding.
The officer has denied these allegations, and legal proceedings are currently in motion. This case is likely to draw significant attention in both maritime and legal communities.
Broader Implications for Maritime Safety
The recent incident has sparked a fresh conversation about navigational duties and the critical need to stick to safety protocols while out at sea. As the investigations unfold, maritime authorities are likely to take a closer look at current operational standards and may even tighten them up to help prevent similar accidents down the line.
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Source: Nautical Voice
