Captain admits to operating cargo ship in San Francisco Bay while intoxicated
Bulk Cargo Carrier Rainbow Quest (MarineTraffic.com)
SAN FRANCISCO - A captain has admitted to being intoxicated while preparing to sail a cargo container ship out of San Francisco Bay.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday that Vadim Humenyuk, 51, pleaded guilty to operating a commercial cargo ship while under the influence of alcohol.
Humenyuk served as master, or head officer, of the 590-foot-long Rainbow Quest when it was preparing to sail to South Korea on Dec. 10. A San Francisco Bar Pilot - essentially a traffic controller for ships navigating through the bay - notified authorities that Humenyuk appeared intoxicated.
Prosecutors said U.S. Coast Guard investigators administered sobriety tests to Humenyuk and he failed them.
He faces up to one year in prison, an additional year of probation and a fine of up to $100,000 when he is sentenced on Jan. 3.