Drunken skipper loses sea 'licence'

Earlier this year at York Crown Court, George Wood escaped with a 1,000 fine after the judge was told the Scot had already lost his 31,000-a-year job over the incident which led to his crew being rescued from Filey Point.

At a hearing held in Southampton this week, the fisherman's UK Fishing Certificates of Competency was also cancelled because of what had happened.

The York Crown Court hearing was told that at 7.42am on August 23 last year, Humber Coastguard received a call saying a ship had grounded.

Two lifeboats were dispatched and Wood was found to be twice the alcohol limit after celebrating his birthday in Bridlington the night before.

As a result of this conviction, an investigation into the conduct of Wood, 53, from Ayr in Scotland, was started and noted that he had previously pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates Court of two offences.

These related to an incident in 2000 when Wood, on board the same vessel Honeybourne III, travelled against the flow of traffic in the Dover Straits for 21 miles – equivalent to driving the wrong way on a motorway.

Following the investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Secretary of State decided to hold a formal inquiry into Wood's fitness to hold a competency certificate.

A coastguard spokesman said Wood did not attend this week's hearing at Southampton Magistrates Courts but made a submission in writing. The hearing ruled that Wood "was not fit to hold a certificate", the spokesman added.

If he wants to work on trawlers again, he will have to sign on as a lowly crew member.