15 January, 2009

THE MASTER of an oil supply vessel is pleading not guilty to breaching safety regulations in connection with the death of a crewman in Lerwick harbour.

Father of three Gordon Michael Buchan, aged 48, of Newton Road, St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, died after falling down steps on board the Vos Viper on 17 November last year, when it was berthed at the Greenhead base.

Yesterday (Wednesday) the vessel’s 62 year old skipper Alexander Phimister, of New Street, Findochty, Buckie, denied breaching the ship’s safety management system by allowing Mr Buchan to board the vessel when his blood alcohol level was almost four times the legal limit under merchant shipping rules.

A trial has been set for 12 March, with an interim diet on 25 February.