Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Curfew for captain

A US captain who grounded his tug off Alaska while playing computer games has been sentenced to six months of home confinement. Ronald Monsen, 63, admitted he had been checking email and playing Hearts on a computer when the 538-gt Pathfinder (built 1970) hit PrinceWilliam Sound's Bligh Reef in 2009,previously the scene of the Exxon Valdez spill.

Pathfinder, owned by Crowley Marine Services, spilled about 6,400 gallons of diesel fuel.  Monsen was charged with violating a federal clean water law.

Following the home confinement, he will spend another 30 months on probation. He will also pay a $15,000 fine and complete 50 hours of community service.

www.tradewindsnews.com

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