Port of Seattle. Photo: Shutterstock/karamysh
The U.S. Coast Guard has arrested the captain of a 333-meter Liberian-flagged containership in Seattle after he was found to be severely intoxicated while in command of the ship.
According to Coast Guard officials, the captain of MSC Jubilee IX was taken into custody on August 20 following a boarding at Terminal 5 in Seattle. The incident began when a Puget Sound Pilot aboard the vessel reported that the captain was showing signs of intoxication.
Taking immediate action, the pilot and the ship’s first mate operated the vessel during its transit from an anchorage near Everett to Terminal 5 at the Port of Seattle, successfully completing the journey without incident.
Upon the vessel’s arrival and mooring at Terminal 5, a Coast Guard boarding team and agents from the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) conducted a boarding and port state control examination. During this inspection, the captain was administered field sobriety and breathalyzer tests, which revealed he was “impaired more than six times the legal limit for commercial mariners.”
Following the discovery, CGIS transported the captain to King County Jail, where charges for boating under the influence were referred to the King County Prosecutor.
Paul Shultz, Special Agent in Charge of the CGIS Northwest Field Office, praised the pilot’s quick response to the situation, stating: “The Coast Guard is proud to ensure the safety and security of the maritime transportation system. The Pilot’s immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel.”
The Coast Guard detained the MSC Jubilee IX until a relief captain could be identified and confirmed. The vessel has since been cleared to resume operations.
The incident involving the massive container ship, which operates under the Liberian flag, remains under investigation by Coast Guard authorities.
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