Safety Failures Lead to Court
His Honour Judge Elwen at Truro Crown Court sentenced George Pill Sr., 61, to six months jail for each of the two offenses he plead guilty to and costs of £8,500.
On the 22nd August 2008 a Surveyor from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) was conducting an audit on the small Class V passenger vessel, the Haven Rose in the port of Falmouth.
It became apparent that the vessels liferaft was overdue for servicing and the hydrostatic release unit (HRU) was past its expiry date. The Surveyor found the serial number of the liferaft had been obliterated and servicing data was attached to the label using yellow embossed Dymo tape instead of the normal black printed lettering on white tape.
Further enquiries showed that the liferaft should have been serviced in December 2007. The hydrostatic release should have been replaced at the same time. The matter was passed to the Enforcement Unit of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency for further investigation.
The owner of the Haven Rose was identified as a Mr. George Pill Senior. Attempts were made to talk Mr. George Pill Sr. but he declined to be interviewed.
On Friday 27th November 2009 Mr. Pill Sr. appeared in the Magistrates Court charged with two offenses relating to proceeding on voyages without a serviced liferaft and out of date hydrostatic release.
He pleaded guilty to both charges. The Magistrates decided it was a serious matter and that they had insufficient sentencing powers and committed Mr. Pill Sr. to Truro Crown Court for sentencing.
