The captain of the cargo ship Misje Verde says he would have noticed if they had hit something.
Even when I sleep, I feel changes in engine speed.
When he was contacted by the Swedish Coast Guard, he did not believe them, but after he received a call from the shipping company, he turned around and anchored.
Even though the pilot had taken over the helm, the captain continued to keep watch. He does not know how he failed to spot the two pleasure boats.
I cannot answer that, but if I had seen them, I would have done something differently. If I had seen them on the radar, I would have acted differently. Then I would have turned to port.
He points out that he has extensive experience at sea.
I have been at sea for 30 years and captain for 20 years. I also have pilot certification, which allows me to sail without a pilot in basically all ports in Norway. I also have extensive experience sailing in Swedish ports without a pilot.
The prosecutor wants the captain, just like the pilot, to be convicted of negligence in maritime traffic, causing death and causing bodily harm. Both deny the charges.
Two people died in the serious boat accident on July 28, on the Hakefjord between Tjörn and the mainland.
The Norwegian-registered cargo ship Misje Verde was en route from Uddevalla to Kragerø in Norway and, according to an initial report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Board, was travelling at a speed of approximately 12 knots.
On approximately the same course further along the fairway, two recreational boats were travelling at a slower speed.
At the height of the island of Katten, Misje Verde caught up with one of the pleasure boats, which immediately sank when it was hit. A few minutes later, the cargo ship also passed the other pleasure boat at close range.
The family on board the sunken pleasure boat - a couple and their two younger children - ended up in the water. The father and son were rescued, but the mother and daughter were found dead on July 29 and 30, respectively.
On July 30, the Russian commander was arrested on board the Misje Verde and a few days later he was remanded in custody. On August 4, it emerged that the Swedish pilot who had been on board was also suspected of the crime.
On August 28, prosecutor James von Reis indicted both men on suspicion of causing death, causing bodily harm, and negligence in maritime traffic. Both deny the crime and blame each other during interrogations.
