The stories are legion of Masters and Chief Engineers, most of whom started at sea during WWII, who were inebriated for much of their time at sea.
I know plenty of mariners of the more modern era who are only still alive because they work on ships where drinking is not allowed. Allows their livers to recover.
I had a similar case when I was in the CG. Jurisdiction can be complicated. One I was involved in, as first responder, was turned over to CG investigators. CG formally seized the vessel and held the officer involved until replaced. The vessel allowed to sail after with action referred to the flag state. It was a federal jurisdictional decision, but I suspect unlikely conviction is the real reason they let it go.
You’re assuming the Chief Mate would be a willing accessory, or given the Captains state, would be the lead in this. Some might, some might not.
That’s not a criminal regulation, and the U.S. Code section it cites is a civil offense. It’s also possible they are concurrently pursuing as a civil violation.
try again.
Still funny as all hell. “Boating under the influence.”
Well he was……………..just in a bigger boat than most that they catch.
In Florida the water cops were having fun staking out a waterfront bar that was near an anchorage and busting people ROWING under the influence making their way back at 2 knots in 8 foot boats. Down in the BVIs if they found a sober person in a dinghy after sunset it would be a first.
As you are a lawyer, perhaps you can enlighten. Other than whatever penalties he’d face for “boating under the influence” what can the U.S. government do to the guy? Refer him to the country that issued his license for action against it there? I’d assume they can’t do too much else.
A very sorry state of affairs for this Ukrainian Master…..who knows what is going on in his war torn home life whilst being stuck on a box boat for however long current swings are. The Master should be helped not crucified. Something must be going on for an individual to drink to such excess so close to a port entry.
The Canadians are pretty hard core about this kind of stuff. Back in the day, I had crew members with DUIs, as sailors do, and they had to jump through many many bureaucratic hoops to become “rehabilitated” in the Canadians’ eyes, and be allowed once again to cross the border into the country. Fair enough, I say– you’re a big boy and should know what the rules are. Don’t allow this captain back into the United States.
That hasn’t changed. Canada is pretty strict about their border. If you’re sailing though on ‘innocent passage’ no problem. But once you have to pass customs they are by the book.
I had a crew member some years ago with a medical issue at sea, off BC. The Canadians sent a plane to medevac her. She was ok in 24 hours. But she had no passport. No passport, you can’t board a plane or drive across the border into the USA. She had to stay a week or more in Canada , haunting the US Embassy while they expedited a passport for her. Only then could she cross.
One visit to Frazer River, Vancouver, the customs collected the entire crews personal computers and tablets (mine excluded) and subjected them to examination. They expressed outrage that there was porn on a couple and confiscated those. The rest were returned just before departure and no shore leave had been granted.
A few of “somethings” are going on, two of which are probably stupidity & alcoholism. Seamen, especially senior officers like Masters & CE’s who don’t have direct supervisors on board have been getting plastered long before Ukraine was invaded. When the Valdez dumped all that oil no one asked about what Hazelwood had going on at home to turn him into a drunk? It’s one thing for a recent grad or new OS to try to sneak on watch shitfaced due to stupidity & immaturity but I don’t want to hear that “woe is me” excuse from the ships Master driving a thousand foot ship through a busy US port?! Furthermore, the few Ukrainians that I’ve dealt with since the invasion are ecstatic to be out of Ukraine. If they’re drinking, it’s to celebrate being out of that war torn hellhole.
I take your point and perhaps excusing it via the conflict was drawing a long bow.
Interesting that the level in Washington State for recreational boaters and drivers is 0.08% and commercial marine operators is 0.04% which indicates that his blood alcohol level was in the order of 0.24% which is highly intoxicated. If indeed he is an alcoholic and this can be borne out via previous behaviours then that is quite possibly the end of his seagoing career.
My port had a similar instance whereby the Pilot who had boarded for departure reported the Master’s very apparent intoxication to AMSA. The departure was cancelled and the company flew out a relief Master. On return to Korea the dismissed Master committed suicide.
Slippery slope.
In the US an average of 12,500 people die due to drunk driving each year. Most municipalities have zero tolerance for drunk driving, all drunk drivers go to jail. The USCG has the same, all mariners who are convicted of DUI must make a corrective action. I don’t see a slippery slope. I don’t want a drunk surgeon, a drunk RN poking me with a needle, a drunk Uber driver or drunk school teacher watching my kids. There’s a level where professionals should put excuses aside. Ship Master is one of them IMO. Again, the dummy should have stayed in his room.
Sal would like to lighten this up a bit:
Surprised to see You have applied “ignore” buttom @ Spowiednick . One can not miss # 13 and yet….
Cheers
Waste of time and energy Bro.
So sorry!!
I did read the post but probably didn’t watch the video.
PS> My memory is not what it used to be. (Probably never was)