Drunken captain grounds ship, blocks entrance to port of Rostock

The master of Dutch general cargo vessel  Abis Bergen is in serious trouble after his ship veered off course, ran aground and blocked the entrance of the German port of Rostock.

The master was taken in by police having been found to be drunk, his breathalyzer test revealing a reading of 1.48, well above the legal limit. The 85 m long ship was damaged in the accident.

The ship was eventually refloated and towed away from the port entrance, allowing other vessels to enter the port.

The ship’s captain is now facing charges for ‘endangering naval traffic’ and piloting the ship despite being ‘absolutely unfit for duty’.