The Coast Guard has found that the captain of a huge container ship was operating his ship while intoxicated prior to docking in Seattle.
According to a Coast Guard news release on Saturday, the unidentified captain of the MSC Jubilee IX was arrested just after bringing the ship into port last Wednesday.
Investigators found that his blood alcohol content was more than six times the legal limit of 0.04% for commercial boating. Additionally, that would put him over three times the legal driving limit.
According to Coast Guard agent Paul Schultz, the Coast Guard takes pride in protecting the maritime transportation system’s safety and security. Significant hazards were reduced and the vessel’s safe passage was guaranteed by the arrest.
Authorities said a local Puget Sound pilot assisting in the docking of the large MSC Jubilee reported to the Coast Guard that the pilot looked intoxicated. Because of this, he was given a breathalyzer test by Coast Guard investigators.
The local authorities took possession of the captain and will determine whether to press charges of operating a vessel while intoxicated.
The event did not cause any harm to the MSC Jubilee IX. It traveled from nearby Everett, Washington, to Seattle and spent over two days at the harbor. According to internet monitoring data, the ship was assigned a relief skipper and set sail for its next destination, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on Friday. On Monday, the ship is expected to dock in the tiny community close to Alaska’s southernmost point.
