By Nick Thorpe
BBC News, Hungary
In a tragic event that remains fresh in many memories, the captain of a cruise ship involved in a fatal collision on the River Danube has been sentenced to five years in prison. The devastating incident resulted in the death of 28 individuals.
The collision, which took place during a rainstorm in May 2019, saw the Mermaid tour boat, carrying South Korean tourists, sink mere seconds after being hit. Yuri Chaplinsky, the Ukrainian captain of the Vikyn Sigyn cruise ship, has consistently denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of gross negligence.
This incident marks the worst disaster on the River Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, in the past three decades.
During the trial, prosecutors outlined that Chaplinsky had been neglectful in his duties, failing to adequately steer the ship during the heavy rainstorm. Miklos Novaki, representing the prosecution, explained, “He did not sense the Mermaid’s presence, did not radio or send out emergency sound signals.”
The collision occurred just after 21:00 local time on 29 May 2019, as both the Vikyn Sigyn and the Mermaid were passing under the Margaret Bridge in Budapest. The rapid sinking of the Mermaid meant that many were either carried away by the river’s currents or trapped inside.
One survivor, speaking to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, recounted the horrifying moments, saying, “The current was so fast and people were floating away.”
Out of the deceased, 25 were South Koreans, including the Mermaid’s captain and a crew member. Only seven South Korean passengers managed to survive the crash, while one remains missing to this day.
Chaplinsky, who has remained in custody since the incident in 2019, expressed his profound remorse in court. He conveyed, “I cannot escape the memories of this terrible tragedy for a minute, I cannot sleep, and I think this is what I have to live with for the rest of my life.” However, he was acquitted on charges of failing to provide assistance post-collision.
As the legal proceedings draw to a close, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers and responsibilities that come with operating large vessels, especially in challenging conditions. While Chaplinsky is expected to appeal, the scars of the tragedy will remain etched in the memories of the victims’ families and the broader community.
