Blood Alcohol Concentration 0.098%... Suspected Violation of the Maritime Transportation Safety Act
Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kwon Oh-seong) announced on the 11th that they have apprehended Captain A for violating the Maritime Traffic Safety Act by operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol.
On the 10th at around 4:53 a.m., Mokpo Maritime Police received a request from the Mokpo Metropolitan Maritime Traffic Control Center (VTS) to verify the status of vessel B (19 tons, aquaculture management vessel) navigating near Dallido, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do, as its communication device and location signal were not functioning properly. The police promptly dispatched officers to the scene.
Mokpo Coast Guard is conducting a breathalyzer test on a captain suspected of drunk navigation. [Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station]
Upon arrival, the police conducted an inspection and administered a breathalyzer test on Captain A (in his 50s), confirming a blood alcohol concentration of 0.098%.
It was revealed that Captain A had consumed alcohol at 6 p.m. on the 9th and departed from Namhang, Mokpo-si, around 5 a.m. on the 10th to sail to Tongyeong Port, Gyeongnam.
The maritime police plan to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the drunk operation and punish Captain A according to relevant laws.
A Mokpo Maritime Police official stated, “Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime that threatens the precious lives and property of oneself and others, and must never be tolerated. We will strengthen crackdowns on vessels operating under the influence that endanger maritime safety.”
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