Mitsui OSK Passenger Line (MOLPAS) has suspended the master of the 22,472-gt passengership Nippon Maru (built 1990) after reports he had been drinking on the day the vessel was involved in a casualty off Guam.
MOLPAS is a subsidiary of Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
On December 30 2018 the cruiseship hit a US Navy fuel pier at the Apra Harbour at the port of Guam in the Pacific as it was heading out to Saipan. The ship had 372 passengers and 252 crew onboard at the time.
There were no injuries or pollution caused by the accident. However the vessel suffered damage to the stern and the cruise was suspended as the vessel underwent repairs.
MOL said it has now suspended the master whilst it investigates reports that he may have breached the company’s alcohol policy.
In a statement MOL said: "The company is aware of a report of alcohol use on the day of the accident. MOPAS has a stringent drug, alcohol policy that requires personnel to "abstain from drinking alcohol four hours before performing scheduled duties on the day" and anyone in violation of the policy is subject to immediate removal.
"The master in charge of maneuvering has been suspended pending the results of the investigation.”
It added: “The company is cooperating fully with the US Coast Guard and the US Navy as they carry out full independent investigations into the accident. MOPAS is also conducting a thorough internal investigation to determine what may have contributed to the incident to ensure similar events do not occur in the future."
