A SOLITARY Lithuanian sailor has been stranded in Poole Harbour for almost a month on a boat too battered to go to sea.

The rusty vessel, bearing visible holes, has been moored alongside Poole Quay since it was impounded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency – and won’t be able to leave until repairs are done.

While the rest of the crew returned to Lithuania to gather the cash for the works, chief engineer Aleksandr Vlasov was left to handle maintenance and security.

The Mission to Seafarers has brought food and found a Russian speaker to provide a little company for the sailor, who speaks very little English.

Julie James, Poole representative for the Christian organisation, said he seemed “terribly lonely” and called for Russian speakers to visit the boat, near Poole Bridge, keep him company while he waits for his captain to return.

Mr Vlasov invited the Echo on board and explained – largely with hand gestures – how he had ended up there after a “storm” when they had taken on a lot of water.

Poole harbour master Brian Murphy said he believed the boat, the Channel Chieftain 4, was a tuna fishing vessel, bought in Weymouth for £23,000.

It spent the winter there undergoing repairs, but got into trouble soon after setting out to sea, and limped into Poole Harbour.

He added: “The idea is to get it fit for sea and take it all the way back to the Baltic. I think it’s a long way from that at the moment.”

Repair specialist Charles Rossiter examined the boat for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. He said there was the “basis for a sound boat” but a lot of work was required.