The tanker captain stopped the ship and instructed his crew to abandon ship.

"In the Merchant Navy, sir a tanker captain 16,000 tons."

The tanker captain said 2.000 tonnes of crude oil may have spilled into the sea.

Under the order, all tanker captains and any crew member who arouses suspicion has to be tested before the vessel leaves port.

The strike, which began on Monday, has severely affected the oil industry, with tanker captains declaring themselves in rebellion and dock workers staging walkouts.

All tanker captains were glad to get out of the Gulf' and McGhee was no exception.

One question that remained unanswered yesterday was why the tanker captain failed to request a pilot before approaching the entrance to the bay.

The tanker captain had a urinalysis Friday night and blood samples were taken this morning, he said.

As a tanker captain, she spent six months a year at sea and much of the remaining time traveling for pleasure.

The tanker captain has a history of alcohol abuse.