A ship’s master was relieved of his duties on board a Norwegian vessel outside Dundee Harbour on Monday after he was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
The Courier understands that a pilot based at Dundee had boarded the ship to guide it into the harbour and immediately suspected Andrejs Borodins, 53, of Latvia, of being drunk.
The pilot contacted police and officers were waiting at the quayside as the ship docked, where Borodins was charged with, on Monday, while being the professional master of the ship the Frifjord, of sailing the vessel on the River Tay between Dundee and Perth while almost four times the legal limit (137 mics). The legal limit is 35 mics.
He was arrested and taken to police headquarters on Bell Street and spent the night in the cells.
Russian-speaking Borodins appeared in the dock in private before Sheriff Charles Macnair on a petition on Tuesday, 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.
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.
The Bahamas-registered Frifjord, a 1,212 gross tonne general cargo ship, sailed into Dundee from Kristiansund in Norway and is en route to Canada.