A container ship captain was arrested in Seattle after Coast Guard investigators determined he was operating the vessel while intoxicated, officials said.
The incident happened Wednesday, Aug. 20, when the captain of the MSC Jubilee IX was taken into custody at Terminal 5.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) said the captain’s blood alcohol content was more than six times the legal limit for commercial mariners.
Wednesday’s arrest followed a report from a Puget Sound Pilot aboard the ship, who told officials the captain was showing signs of intoxication during the vessel’s transit from Everett to Seattle, officials said.
The pilot and first mate assumed control of the 333-meter container ship and guided it safely to port.
Once the ship moored at Terminal 5, a Coast Guard boarding team conducted a port state control examination. A field sobriety and breathalyzer test confirmed the captain was impaired, according to Coast Guard officials.
CGIS agents transported him to King County Jail. Charges were referred to the King County Prosecutor for boating under the influence.
The vessel was detained until a relief captain was identified and cleared. It has since resumed operations.
“The Coast Guard is proud to ensure the safety and security of the maritime transportation system,” said Paul Shultz, Special Agent in Charge of the CGIS Northwest Field Office. “The Pilot’s immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel.”
The case remains under investigation.
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