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Article published January 8. 2008 12:42PM
Ferry pilot admits he was impaired

By Robyn Skinner

The pilot of a fast ferry that crashed into a dock pleaded guilty to being more than twice over the legal alcohol limit at the time.

Dwayne Pearman, 37, who was piloting the J.L. Cecil Smith picked up 60 passengers from the Hamilton Ferry dock on Friday, December 21 at 5.30 p.m.

Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how he was approaching the Rockaway Ferry terminal at 5.55 p.m. and instead of aiming for the end of the dock arm he went straight for the arm.

The court was told that the assistant pilot, who was in the cockpit at the time, asked Pearman: "Do you see it?" To which Pearman replied: "I've got it."

But even as Pearman threw the 100 tonne boat in reverse the momentum was so strong he ran into the ferry dock. After two attempts he managed to dock the ferry.

Most of the passengers were sitting at the time and none were injured. The crash did result in minor damage to the bow railing of the boat and ferry dock.

When leaving the Rockaway stop, however, further complications ensued.

Pearman pulled the J.L. Cecil Smith away from the dock without raising the gang plank.

The assistant pilot, who was standing next to Pearman at the time, took over for him and piloted the boat safely back to Hamilton.

Two Police officers were waiting at the dock and found Pearman spraying himself with air freshener as the ferry arrived back at the Hamilton dock.

He was also very unsteady on his feet and when he was taken to the Hamilton Police Station he measured between 262 and 264 millilitres of alcohol in 100 milligrams of blood.

Under Bermuda's law, the blood alcohol limit for ferry pilots is higher than for car drivers. The limit for drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood compared to 100 milligrams for pilots.

When Police searched Pearman's black bag they found a bottle of fortified wine and when they searched the ferry they found six empty bottles of fortified wine in a bin.

One of the empty bottles was found outside the bathroom where Pearman had been freshening up.

When questioned, Pearman told Police he does not drink, however, his assistant pilot confirmed he had seen him drinking that day.

Yesterday in court, his lawyer Eugene Johnston said though he has pleaded guilty, Pearman would like a chance to present information that might mitigate the circumstances.

Mr. Johnston said: "He does not drink alcohol and this is a mistake."

This is the second crash involving one of the fast ferries in the last few months of 2007.

On September 15, last year, at 12.40 p.m. as the ferry Serenity attempted to dock, with around 47 passengers aboard the boat slammed up against the dock, sending passengers flying.

Drunk driving was never suspected and a spokesman for Marine and Port Services said that an investigation was underway, however, the results have never been released.

Yesterday questions placed to Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, the Transport Minister, through both his press secretary Glenn Jones and through the Department of Communications, about Pearman's job remained unanswered last night at the time of press.

Dr. Brown was asked:

* Is there anything in place to stop this happening again?

* Will the ferry driver keep his job?

* Can the Premier and Minister of Transport give the travelling public any reassurances that this is a one-off?

Pearman, who remains an employee of Marine and Port Services, as far as this paper has been made aware, will be in court later this month for sentencing.

Yesterday the $2,000 bail he was given after the first trial date on December 27 was extended and he will reappear in court at 9.30 on January 15.

From today's daily
This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.theroyalgazette.com

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Article published January 8. 2008 12:42PM
Ferry pilot admits he was impaired
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