GMM Training | 2024-01-24 | Case Incidents |

The captain of the ship, “MSC ROSHNEY V,” pled guilty to being intoxicated while operating the vessel in a UK court. The captain, “Zbigniew Chowaniec,” a Polish National, pleaded guilty in a UK Court to operating the vessel while intoxicated. He was found to be nearly four times the legal limit for seafarers when tested on January 15th at 7:00 AM.

The incident came to light when the ship arrived from Antwerp at the UK Port of Felixstowe at 6:00 AM. Upon boarding the ship, the port pilot detected a strong smell of alcohol while guiding the ship to dock. After securing the vessel, the pilot reported his suspicions of the captain being drunk to the port authority.

Following this, the Port Police boarded the ship, and the captain was arrested on suspicion of being heavily intoxicated while in command. The subsequent breathalyzer test on the captain revealed 93 micrograms per 100 of alcohol in his bloodstream. The legal limit for seafarers is 25 micrograms. Chowaniec appeared before the Suffolk Magistrate Court, pleaded guilty to the charge, and surrendered his passport. He was released on conditional bail and will face sentencing on February 12th.

The containership MSC ROSHNEY V departed for FELIXSTOWE on January 16th on its return trip to Turkey.