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The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has arrested the master of the MSC Jubilee IX after he was found to be heavily intoxicated while the vessel was entering the Port of Seattle earlier this week.
A Puget Sound pilot boarded the Liberian-flagged containership on August 20 to guide it from anchorage near Everett, Washington, to Terminal 5 in Seattle. The pilot immediately reported concerns to Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, noting that the captain appeared to be under the influence. Throughout the transit, the pilot and the vessel’s first mate assumed navigational duties, ensuring the ship berthed safely without incident.
Once docked, a Coast Guard boarding team, joined by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, carried out a port state control inspection. A field sobriety test and breathalyzer administered to the captain confirmed he was impaired at more than six times the legal alcohol limit for commercial mariners. He was taken into custody and transported to King County Jail, where charges of boating under the influence were referred to the King County Prosecutor.
The MSC Jubilee IX—a 108,770 dwt containership with an 8,800 TEU capacity—was detained until a qualified relief captain was assigned. The ship, which entered MSC’s fleet in March 2025 after being built in 2008, was later cleared to continue operations. It departed Seattle on August 22, bound for Prince Rupert, Canada, before proceeding on its scheduled voyage to Yantian, China.
This incident echoes a similar case in January 2024, when the captain of another MSC vessel, the MSC Roshney V, was arrested in Felixstowe, UK. In that case, the Polish master was found to have a blood alcohol level nearly four times above the legal limit. He later pleaded guilty, received a suspended sentence and fine, and admitted that the episode effectively ended his maritime career.
