Drunk cruise ship passenger facing possible 20 years for dropping anchor

[Torplexed]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/drunk-anchor-drop-plea-453627

AUGUST 19--The drunken passenger who last year released the anchor on a Holland America cruise ship traveling in international waters will plead guilty to a felony charge for attempting to damage the vessel, according to a deal struck with federal prosecutors.

According to a plea agreement filed yesterday in U.S. District Court, Rick Ehlert faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine in connection with the November 2010 incident on the MS Ryndam.

As the ship traveled between Mexico and Florida, Ehlert, 45, gained access to a crew-only deck and went through “an unlocked door with warnings that only authorized personnel were permitted to enter.” Inside, Ehlert released the 18-ton anchor and chain, allowing it to “free fall, as indicated by the fact that there was rust from the chain sprayed all over the deck.”

Ehlert was captured on surveillance video which showed him wearing work gloves and “taking multiple steps” to release the anchor. “The deployment mechanism is quite complex and required tools, including a wrench, to complete. The process took Ehlert approximately 12 minutes,” the plea agreement notes.

Investigators charged that the anchor’s release could have caused significant damage, since the MS Ryndam “was in such deep water that the anchor did not hit the sea floor.” The ship has a capacity of 1260 passengers and carries a crew of 580, according to Holland America's web site.Geez. I find it hard to believe he pulled this off while intoxicated. Of all the dumb things to do. The shuffleboard court must have been too crowded that day. Considering how he's wrecked his life he probably should have tossed himself overboard too.

[nikimcbee]

Too bad he didn't have the anchor chain wrapped around his foot.

...testing out the new sig.:salute:

[Sailor Steve]

I like it!

On the other hand it's a tad big for the rules.

[nikimcbee]

I like it!

On the other hand it's a tad big for the rules.
fixed. cut it by 10%

[Anthony W.]

First thing I thought when I read the title.of this thread was, "Oh great, Jimbunas went on vacation again"

[BossMark]

Oh boy I have done some daft things while under the influence but this guy wins hands down :yep:

[papa_smurf]

First thing I thought when I read the title.of this thread was, "Oh great, Jimbunas went on vacation again"

Its never good when a Geordie goes on holiday.

[Jimbuna]

First thing I thought when I read the title.of this thread was, "Oh great, Jimbunas went on vacation again"

Its never good when a Geordie goes on holiday.

LOL but on a more serious note, my son is Third Officer on the MS Ryndam and I'm about to email him to see if he was aboard at the time.

[August]

Oh boy I have done some daft things while under the influence but this guy wins hands down :yep:


Yeah i'm thinking he wasn't as drunk as he made himself out to be. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

LOL but on a more serious note, my son is Third Officer on the MS Ryndam and I'm about to email him to see if he was aboard at the time.

The reply:


Hahaha its funny you send that as I was keeping the report to show you when I got home and yes I was on board, all I can say is that the British should take a lead from the way the Americans prosecute people, the guy who did it is also very wealthy so we have been informed they are going to take him to the cleaners.

I shall explain the story more when I get home but yeah it wasn't a good day that day as we thought we had lost someone overboard due to a life buoy being released so we had to do a full ship muster including the guests and crew on deck.

[AVGWarhawk]

The question is why did he do it? It certainly is not funny or entertaining. Unless he lost a bet what was the motive?

[Betonov]

LOL but on a more serious note, my son is Third Officer on the MS Ryndam and I'm about to email him to see if he was aboard at the time.

Jim, I may have a lot of questions for you in the near future, as I am studying for a career in shipping.

On topic: 20 years seems a bit severe for stupidity. Community service, repayment of damages, banned from ever again stepping on a cruiseliner sounds less medieval

[Jimbuna]

The question is why did he do it? It certainly is not funny or entertaining. Unless he lost a bet what was the motive?

Probably simple 'stupidity' :yep:

Jim, I may have a lot of questions for you in the near future, as I am studying for a career in shipping.

On topic: 20 years seems a bit severe for stupidity. Community service, repayment of damages, banned from ever again stepping on a cruiseliner sounds less medieval

You need only ask...if I can't answer (34 years since I was a seagoing engineer) my son (deck officer) will hopefully be able to assist :up:

[Betonov]

You need only ask...if I can't answer (34 years since I was a seagoing engineer) my son (deck officer) will hopefully be able to assist :up:

Thanks :yeah:

[Bubblehead1980]

stupid move for sure but 20 years is a bit much, any prison time really.The Federal government is :damn:

[FIREWALL]

I don't buy the drunk part. Evidence says other wise.

The Defence lawyer thru that in to muddy the waters and hopefully get a liberal judge to be more lenient.

A lawyer always wants to put most of the blame on addiction to booze or drugs

[Jimbuna]

Thanks :yeah:

Your welcome :sunny:

[kiwi_2005]

Sounds like a heavy drinking session with some buddies that led to 'hey I bet ya $100 bucks you can't drop the ships anchor'. The rest is history...:rotfl2:

[RickC Sniper]

I wonder who'll get his 50 foot boat. I'll take it if nobody else want it. I'll give it back to him when he gets out. Promise!!!

[Torplexed]

I wonder who'll get his 50 foot boat. I'll take it if nobody else want it. I'll give it back to him when he gets out. Promise!!!

I wonder who'll get his RV dealership in Thousand Oaks? :D

...testing out the new sig.:salute:

Nice sig. :cool:

LOL but on a more serious note, my son is Third Officer on the MS Ryndam and I'm about to email him to see if he was aboard at the time.

Whoa! Small world. :DL

[Jimbuna]

Whoa! Small world. :DL

Not sure if you noticed it before but just in case, this is part of my sons email response:

Hahaha its funny you send that as I was keeping the report to show you when I got home and yes I was on board, all I can say is that the British should take a lead from the way the Americans prosecute people, the guy who did it is also very wealthy so we have been informed they are going to take him to the cleaners.

I shall explain the story more when I get home but yeah it wasn't a good day that day as we thought we had lost someone overboard due to a life buoy being released so we had to do a full ship muster including the guests and crew on deck.

[Torplexed]

Not sure if you noticed it before but just in case, this is part of my sons email response:

Yes I did. I imagine your son was none too amused to have to try and help find a missing passenger in a huge cruise ship because of somebody's dumb drunken prank. I look forward to hearing the full story. I'm sure he has plenty of other stories as well. :)

I recall the one cruise I took up to Alaska. Judging by the irreverent behavior I saw at the pre-departure lifeboat drill I'm sure half of passengers attending mine had already gotten pretty loaded either on their flight or on the limo drive over to the docks from the airport. Some of them were already three sheets to the wind. You had a small group of stern sober officers in white trying to explain to a half drunk, giggly crowd (some still holding their drinks) the procedures that could save their lives. A weird mix. I could see the bemusement and annoyance in some of the officer's faces.

[Jimbuna]

Here he is in Alaska (Hubbard Glacier I believe)

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8997/dsc02056c.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/202/dsc02056c.jpg/)

The Ryndam
http://www.figuralminibottles.net/goedewaagen/Holland%20America/ms%20ryndam%201.jpg
http://www.cruiseweb.com/hal-imagelibrary/ship-ryndam/SA04-03414-w600x400.jpg

Perks of the job :DL

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3772/dsc02084a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/dsc02084a.jpg/)