Drunken Fingal skipper fined £3,300

59 year-old Stanlislaw Sowinski has been fined £3,300 at Oban Sheriff Court for skippering the 1,200 ton coaster, FIngal, while drunk, for failing to navigate a safe course, for failing to keep a proper look out and for failing to prevent his ship from grounding.

The incident, which we reported at the time, took place on 15th December 2009 and saw the Fingal ground on rocks on the north shore of the Isle of Jura near the Corryvreckan whirlpool – which, by good fortune, was slack at the time. Two lifeboats attended the scene – from Oban and from Islay – and an RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick.

The Fingal had lowered its boats when the rescuers arrived but was refloated and escorted to Oban by the lifeboat where she lay anchored off Kerrera pending the outcome of the situation.

Sowinski, who was three times over the limit, is from Gdynia (Gdansk) in Poland, said that he was ashamed of what he had done and faces the inevitable loss of his master’s ticket.