Vacationer Guilty of Attempted Ship Damage

(Tampa, Florida) A 44-year-old California businessman, Rick Ehlert, pleaded guilty today in federal court to dropping anchor on a cruise ship, MS Ryndam, while underway. The ship was sailing from Tampa to Costa Maya, Mexico, with 1800+ people onboard.

Ehlert faces a possible 20 years in federal prison for attempting to damage a maritime facility and attempting to destroy a life buoy.

According to the plea agreement, on November 27, 2010, the Ehlert attempted to cause damage to the MS Ryndam, a cruise ship, while it was in international waters, by unlawfully dropping the stern anchor on board the ship while the ship was in motion.

Additionally, Ehlert attempted to destroy or disable a life buoy, an item intended to be used in connection with an emergency on board the MS Ryndam, by throwing it overboard.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Coast Guard. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.

Ehlert claimed he was drunk.