A drunken Ukrainian captain sailed up the Thames with a tanker packed with 4,000 tons of explosive chemicals.

Volodymyr Gonchar, 53, was three times over the legal limit when police boarded the Cypriot-registered Elousa Trikoukiotisa at the Thames estuary on November 4.

He was jailed for two months yesterday after pleading guilty to being master of a ship while being over the alcohol limit.

Deadly cargo

If the ship had sunk or ran aground its deadly cargo of ammonium nitrate would have caused a massive explosion not to mention an environmental disaster.

Gonchar had signed a declaration saying he would not drink on the supposed 'dry ship' but claimed he was only toasting the 25th anniversary of his fathers death. Cops however said the captain "smelt strongly of drink."

When breathalysed, the Ukrainian was found to have 103 micrograms of alcoholic per 100ml of breath - the limit is 35.

Destination Dagenham

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how the 15 man strong vessel was due to dock at Dagenham and Judge Judith Huges QC made no bones about the seriousness of the incident. Saying:

"I cannot ignore the fact that you were drinking whilst you were in charge of that ship.

"And I cannot ignore the fact that she was carrying dangerous chemicals, namely ammonium nitrate and diesel."

Prosecutor Matthew Dalton went further saying:

"It was, it's fair to say, transiting one of the busiest shipping areas in the world.

"The worst case scenario in the event of a collision is the possibility of a serious explosion in the event of diesel and ammonium nitrate mixing. If it were to sink or ground it would close the Port of London."