The United States Coast Guard recently arrested the captain of an MSC container ship after a pilot reported signs of intoxication. Following the vessel’s arrival, Coast Guard officers conducted a field sobriety test and breathalyzer, revealing a blood alcohol level more than six times the legal limit for commercial mariners.
The vessel involved, MSC Jubilee IX, is a 108,770-DWT container ship with a capacity of 8,800 TEU. Built in 2008 and registered in Liberia, the 332-meter-long, 43-meter-wide ship had departed from Busan, South Korea, called at Vancouver, Canada, and was anchored near Everett, Washington, before entering the Port of Seattle on August 20. The vessel reportedly joined MSC’s fleet in March 2025.
Upon boarding to guide the ship into Seattle, a pilot observed the captain’s suspected impairment and reported it to the Coast Guard. The pilot, together with the chief mate, maneuvered the vessel safely from anchorage to Terminal 5.
Once berthed, a Coast Guard boarding team and the Coast Guard Investigative Service conducted a port state control inspection and administered sobriety testing. The captain was arrested and transported to King County Jail.
The MSC Jubilee IX was detained until a replacement captain was identified and confirmed, after which it was cleared to resume operations.
The Coast Guard stated that the incident remains under investigation.
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