The captain of the 333-meter container ship MSC Jubilee IX was arrested in Seattle after being found intoxicated while in command of the vessel.
According to a U.S. Coast Guard statement, a pilot aboard the vessel reported that the ship’s captain was showing signs of intoxication during a transit from an anchorage near Everett, Washington, to the Port of Seattle. The pilot and the vessel’s first mate took control of the ship and brought it safely into port without incident.
Once the ship was moored in Seattle, a Coast Guard boarding team carried out a port state control inspection. They conducted field sobriety and breath tests on the captain, who was found to be more than six times over the legal alcohol limit for commercial mariners.
The captain was immediately arrested and taken to jail. Prosecutors are reviewing charges of boating under the influence.
The vessel was held in port until a relief captain was confirmed, after which the MSC Jubilee IX was cleared to continue operations.
