[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A ‘slurred’ captain was caught for drunk driving at sea.
Busan Maritime Police Station announced on the 14th that they arrested a captain in his 60s for violating the Maritime Safety Act after operating a vessel while intoxicated.
According to the maritime police, Captain A was operating a boat while drinking alcohol in the waters in front of the docks in Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu, Busan, at around 10:19 PM the previous day.
Busan Port VTS reported to the maritime police after noticing A’s strange speech and failure to communicate properly, and a coastal rescue boat was dispatched.
The maritime police stopped the vessel that was sailing from Gamcheon Port to North Port and conducted a breathalyzer test on A, who was in the wheelhouse, confirming a blood alcohol concentration of 0.176%.
Under the Maritime Safety Act, operating a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.08% and less than 0.2% is punishable by a fine ranging from 20 million to 30 million KRW.
A maritime police official stated, “Operators must adhere to the law themselves when out at sea,” and added, “We plan to continue strict enforcement to eradicate drunk driving.”
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