Nick Cotter acts in Baltic Sea cargo ship fatalities case
28th February 2025
3PB's crime and regulatory specialist counsel Nicholas Cotter advised his client Sam Farrow, who was captain of the 3,500-tonne cargo ship Scot Carrier, who was facing charges in this complex maritime case.
Two Danish sailors, Erik Jensen and Per Hartmann Christensen, on a Danish barge died after the Scot Carrier collided with it and their 180-ft Karin Hoj capsized in the Baltic Sea, off the southern coast of Sweden. Sam Farrow was prosecuted because he was a master of ship and therefore responsible for enforcing the safety management system.
Nick advised Captain Farrow from an stage and the case involved complex facts around the causes of the crash and the actions of his second mate and the practices of the ship's owners, amongst other matters.
A judge at Southampton Crown Court in Hampshire said it was an 'accident waiting to happen' and criticised the 'laissez-faire attitude' towards safety onboard the Inverness-registered ship, which is owned by Intrada Ships Management.
Captain Farrow, 33, was not given a custodial sentence as he was given an 8-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He must pay £25,000 costs after admitting his failure to operate the ship's safety management system. He will also have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay a victim surcharge.
The case attracted widespread coverage in the media including the Daily Telegraph, The Times and Daily Mail.
Nick was instructed by John Weston from specialist shipping and superyachts law firm BW & Co in London.
If you wish to contact Nicholas Cotter, or instruct him or see about his availability, please email his clerk Stuart Pringle on [email protected] or by calling him on 01962 868 884.
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