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Heavily intoxicated Russian captain arrested after endangering fishing vessels off Vieux-Boucau
The captain of the 'Radbod' was arrested in the port of Bayonne on Jan 14, 2026, after navigating erratically off the coast of Vieux-Boucau. The ship was approaching fishing boats dangerously and remained silent despite calls from the Messanges lighthouse. For 45 minutes, the ship did not respond to any communications. After the ship finally docked in Bayonne. the Maritime police boarded the vessel and observed that the captain appeared to be intoxicated. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.96 mg per liter of exhaled air, equivalent to nearly two grams per liter of blood. The ship's first mate explained that the captain had indeed been at the helm at the time and that he had to intervene to regain control after seeing the cargo ship's erratic course. The captain, a Russian national, denied the charges. He was taken into custody for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a ship while intoxicated, and failing to comply with safety regulations. Due to the seriousness of the situation, the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office decided to refer him to the Maritime Court, a first since the creation of this specialized jurisdiction in 2014. He was placed under judicial supervision, with a ban on practicing as a ship's captain, pending his trial on March 13.. The "Radbod"had left Bilbao bound for Bayonne to load metals destined for the Netherlands. On board were eight crew members, including six Ukrainians and two Filipinos. The 'Radbod' was arrested and remained stationary in Bayonne as of Jan 20.
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