Bodden Shipping says pilot arrested in tanker investigation: Cayman News Agency

(CNS): Boden Line confirmed that two of its pilots were recently arrested and detained as part of an investigation into the grounding. walrus Last week, a tanker ran aground off Cayman Brac. While authorities remain tight-lipped about a criminal investigation, the local shipping company issued a press release refuting a local article saying it had stopped pilotage services in protest.

Company officials did not identify the article or which media outlet published the report, which they said was inaccurate.

They did say that while they could not disclose information about the vessel and the circumstances of its visit to Cayman Brac, Borden Line did not accept responsibility for the tanker’s inability to dock at Grand Cayman. The company said it would provide pilotage services for the tanker. walrus Once a berth is available.

After completing initial repairs in Cayman Brac, the tanker sailed to Grand Cayman for further repairs and inspection. As the investigation and inspection are ongoing, the tanker remains anchored offshore awaiting permission to leave port from the Cayman Islands Maritime Authority. The investigation is ongoing and two pilots from Boden Shipping and the ship’s master walrus Arrested on suspicion of violating state conservation laws.

In a news release, Boden Shipping said it had been willing to assist authorities with their investigation from the outset. The company has contacted the Department of Environment and other investigating agencies to offer its assistance and is willing to be interviewed about the incident on Cayman Brac at a time and location of the Department of Environment’s choosing.

“These offers were denied and our pilot was instead confronted by multiple law enforcement officers, arrested and taken to a detention center,” the release stated. “Nevertheless, our pilot continued to perform their professional duties and we remain willing to assist authorities with their investigation. We look forward to a swift conclusion to the investigation and the exoneration of our pilot.”

CNS has asked the company to confirm the items in question and we are awaiting a response. However, the shipping company also denied allegations that it had “retired” all Cayman Islands pilots.

“Our former pilots retired either voluntarily or because they were in their 80s and no longer fit to do the job,” the shipping company said. “The reason why Borden Line did not hire a new Cayman Islands pilot was that there was no pilot with the senior captain qualifications required to do the job – therefore, we hired experienced professionals from overseas.”

Pilotage services have not been suspended or terminated, executives added, and another tanker, GTM Germanyhad docked at Jackson Point Terminal on Wednesday to pick up fuel.