Coast Guard arrests container ship captain for operating vessel drunk in Elliott Bay
Aug 23, 2025, 3:11 PM | Updated: Aug 25, 2025, 1:09 pm
The MSC Jubilee IX in operation. (Photo courtesy of Vessel Finder)
(Photo courtesy of Vessel Finder)
The captain of a massive container ship was arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard for allegedly operating a massive vessel in Elliott Bay while intoxicated, officials confirmed.
Members of the Coast Guard’s Investigative Service boarded the MSC Jubilee IX Wednesday after a crew member on the ship reported the captain appeared drunk.
The captain and a first mate had just sailed the big container ship, more than 1,000 feet in length, from Everett to Seattle’s Terminal Five.
Coast Guard officials issued a field sobriety test at the scene, determining the ship’s captain had more than six times the blood-alcohol limit for commercial mariners.
Coast Guard agents arrested him and booked him into the King County Jail. Charges will be referred to the King County Prosecutor for boating under the influence.
The Coast Guard detained the huge ship until a relief captain was identified and confirmed. The vessel was then approved to resume operations.
A Special Agent in Charge of the CGIS Northwest Field Office released the following statement about the arrest:
The Coast Guard is proud to ensure the safety and security of the maritime transportation system. The pilot’s immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel.”
The MSC Jubilee IX operates under the flag of Liberia. The Coast Guard will continue its investigation into the incident.
