❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Ukrainian cargo ship captain was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence after piloting a massive container vessel into Seattle while intoxicated.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oleh Danylin, a 48-year-old Ukrainian cargo ship captain, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on August 20, 2025, when the MSC Jubilee IX arrived at Terminal 5 in Seattle, Washington. Charges were filed on Tuesday, August 26.
💬KEY QUOTE: “A single miscalculation could have put lives, property, and critical shipping lanes in danger.” – Prosecutor’s filing.
🎯IMPACT: Captain Danylin faces up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted, with further legal proceedings scheduled.
A Ukrainian cargo ship captain, Oleh Danylin, has been charged in King County, Washington, for allegedly piloting a massive container vessel into Seattle, Washington, while intoxicated. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges of Operation of a Vessel While Under the Influence, a gross misdemeanor, against Danylin on Tuesday morning, August 26.
The incident occurred on August 20, 2025, when the MSC Jubilee IX arrived at Terminal 5 in Seattle. A Puget Sound pilot assigned to guide the ship through local waters reported smelling alcohol on Captain Danylin and alerted the U.S. Coast Guard. Danylin denied drinking, claiming the odor was from mouthwash, but failed field sobriety tests. A preliminary breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.241, three times the legal limit. Further testing confirmed levels of 0.253 and 0.254.
Danylin was arraigned in King County District Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty. He was released on personal recognizance but ordered to surrender his passport to the U.S. Coast Guard and barred from operating any vessel while the case is pending. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the risks posed by operating a large cargo vessel while impaired.
“This isn’t just a weekend boater,” the filing stated. “A single miscalculation could have put lives, property, and critical shipping lanes in danger.” While most DUI cases in King County are handled at the city level, the county prosecutor’s office has jurisdiction over certain waterways.
If convicted, Danylin faces up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. His next court appearance is a pre-trial hearing scheduled for August 27, with a routine pre-trial session set for September 27. Prosecutors have requested a jury trial.
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