Cargo Ship Master Arrested for Drunken Shipwreck in Aegean Sea

The Hellenic Coast Guard recently arrested the 46-year-old master of a Bahamas-registered cargo ship for causing a shipwreck and disturbance of security due to drunkenness on duty. The incident occurred when the small cargo ship ran aground on a rocky point on the southeast side of Makronissos, a small island in the Aegean Sea. The vessel, carrying 4,100 metric tons of melamine pallets from Turkey to Piraeus, had a crew of nine Ukrainian members, including the master. After being refloated with the help of a tug, the ship was moved to Piraeus anchorage for repairs, as Greek authorities issued a detention order until the vessel was certified by class.

The Second Port Department of Keratsini of the Central Port Authority of Piraeus is investigating the incident that led to the charges against the master. While details of the level of inebriation were not disclosed, this incident is part of a series involving alcohol consumption on duty. Previous cases include a captain losing his position after being found guilty of drinking on duty at the port of Felixstowe in the UK and a fatal collision in Denmark involving an officer who had consumed alcohol before his watch. These incidents highlight the dangers of alcohol consumption while on duty in the maritime industry.

The arrest of the cargo ship’s master for causing a shipwreck due to drunkenness on duty has drawn attention to the issue of alcohol consumption in the maritime industry. The vessel ran aground on Makronissos, a small island in the Aegean Sea, while carrying melamine pallets from Turkey to Piraeus. Despite being refloated and moved to Piraeus anchorage for repairs, the ship was detained by Greek authorities until it was certified by class. This incident is part of a series of cases involving alcohol consumption on duty, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sobriety while working in the maritime sector.

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