Container Ship Captain Suspended For Drink Driving Offense In Felixstowe

Zbigniew Chowaniec, a Polish national and container ship captain, was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence and fine after being detected nearly four times above the legal alcohol limit while in charge of his vessel. The incident happened on January 15th when police boarded the MSC Roshney V in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Chowaniec, aged 65, confessed to the maritime violation while appearing at the Ipswich Crown Court. Chowaniec, who was in command of the 965-foot MSC Roshney V, which was sailing from Belgium to Turkey, was discovered to have a breathalyser reading of 93 micrograms per 100 millilitres, which was much higher than the 25 micrograms that are allowed for sailors.

According to reports, port officers detected a strong alcohol odour coming from Chowaniec when they boarded the ship early in the morning. After being detained and placed under arrest, a breathalyser test revealed that he was intoxicated.

Chowaniec apologised for his acts during the court proceedings and said that his tenure as a captain had now ended. Judge David Wilson decided to be generous despite the seriousness of the offence, citing Chowaniec’s prior good reputation and concluding that he did not currently constitute a threat to the public.

Chowaniec was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, with a 12-month suspension and a £494 (about $620) fine. Meanwhile, the suspended prison sentence only applies if Chowaniec doesn’t commit further crimes within the allotted time.

The court’s decision has spurred discussion about the proper penalties for such a major maritime violation, with some raising worries about the potential risks that drunk ship commanders could pose. Still, the situation serves as a reminder of the importance of following stringent alcohol guidelines when working in industries where public safety is of utmost concern.

Reference: BBC

Container Ship Captain Suspended For Drink Driving Offense In Felixstowe appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News