A US man has pleaded guilty to “attempting
to damage a maritime facility” in a court case
over an incident last year where he
deliberately released the anchor of Holland
America’s Ryndam while it was in transit on a
western Caribbean cruise from Costa Maya
in Mexico to Tampa, Florida.
45-year-old Rick Ehlert faces up to 20 years
in prison, after admitting breaking into a
control room and deploying the 18 tonne
stern anchor while drunk on his trip on 27
November last year.
Fortunately the vessel wasn’t damaged
because the anchor didn’t hit the sea floor
before staff were alerted.
Ehlert’s lawyer said he doesn’t believe that
a 20 year sentence is warranted, saying his
client was only “guilty of felony stupidity”.
