site.btaProsecution to Bring Charges Against Stranded Bulk Carrier's Shipmaster, Second Assistant Ship Master

October 7 (BTA) - The
prosecution service will bring charges against the shipmaster
and second assistant shipmaster of the stranded bulk carrier
"Vera Su", Dobrich district prosecutor Radoslav Bouhchev told
journalists on Thursday. The two will be detained for up to 72
hours and then the prosecution will demand they remain in
custody.

The 32-years-old Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier "Vera Su",
owned by a Turkish company, veered off course and ran aground
near the Kamen Bryag locality on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast
on  the night of September 20. The ship carries 3,000 tonnes of
urea. All seamen of the 9-strong crew were evacuated on
Wednesday at the shipmaster's request and questioned at the
district court in Dobrich on Thursday.

The shipmaster has voluntarily handed the ship's documents to
the investigators.

Investigators of the National Investigation Service are expected
 to arrive in Dobrich on Friday to monitor the case.
    
Bouhchev said that an alert has been received from the Minister
of Environment and Water about a possible crime against the
environment. The pre-trial proceedings are being conducted in
three directions: a transport crime where the facts and
circumstances concerning the ship's getting stranded are to be
cleared; whether or not the employees of the corresponding
administrations have acted adequately; possible environmental
damage.
 
Taking a question, Bouhchev said that the ship probably ran
aground due to human error.

RY/DS


/ДЛ/