The U.S. Coast Guard said the captain of the MSC Jubilee IX, a 333-meter container ship sailing under the Liberian flag, was arrested Wednesday in Seattle after being accused of operating the vessel while intoxicated.

According to the statement released Saturday, a Puget Sound, a vessel on board, noticed the captain showing signs of intoxication. Given the situation, the pilot and first officer assumed control of the vessel from near Everett, Washington, until its arrival at the Port of Seattle, where it docked without incident.

Breathalyzer test: six times the legal limit

Once at Terminal 5, a Coast Guard team and Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) agents boarded the vessel. The captain was given a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test, which determined his blood alcohol level was six times the legal limit for commercial mariners.

Federal law states that anyone operating a non-recreational vessel with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher is considered impaired.

Arrest and Legal Consequences

The captain, whose name has not been released, was arrested and taken to the King County Jail. Charges were referred to the King County District Attorney's Office for boating under the influence of alcohol. The case remains under investigation, and the prosecutor’s office has not commented.

Meanwhile, the MSC Jubilee IX has received a relief captain and was cleared to resume normal operations.

Paul Shultz, special agent in charge of the CGIS Northwest Field Office, noted that the pilot’s immediate intervention averted a potential disaster in the region’s congested shipping lanes.

“The pilot’s immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel,” Shultz said in the statement.

The case has highlighted the importance of sobriety checks and safety in international shipping, especially for large vessels transiting through densely populated and strategic trade areas.