The Hellenic Coast Guard has arrested a Ukrainian captain on 18 November, four days after the cargo ship he was commanding collided with a rock off the coast of Makronisos, Greece, while he was under the influence of alcohol.
As informed by the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Bahamian-flagged vessel struck rock on November 11, 2024. The Coast Guard announced that the 46-year-old Ukrainian captain is being held under legislation governing maritime accidents, including alcohol consumption while on duty.
He was arrested for violating Articles 291 (Disturbance of safety) and 277 (Causing a shipwreck) of the Penal Code, in combination with Article 233 of Law 187/73, which pertains to alcohol consumption while on duty. An investigation is currently being carried out by the Port Department of Keratsini, under the Central Port Authority of Piraeus.
Any level of alcohol consumption by crew members on board a ship has implications for the safety of the vessel, the crew and any passengers. Even small quantities of alcohol have been shown to sufficiently impair judgment and increase the risk of accidents.
