'Sea Yoon Chang-ho Act' Enforced from the 19th... Strengthened Punishment for Ship Drunk Driving

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] In the future, ship operators or pilots with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20% or higher, or those who have committed drunk navigation or refused alcohol testing two or more times, will face imprisonment for 2 to 5 years or a fine of 20 to 30 million KRW.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 11th that the amendments to the "Maritime Safety Act" and the "Ship Crew Act" containing these provisions will take effect from the 19th.

This revised law was prompted by the collision accident of the Russian cargo ship Seagrand with the Gwangandaegyo Bridge on February 28 last year. The main content is the strengthening of penalties for those operating ships under the influence of alcohol.

First, under the amendment to the Maritime Safety Act, the punishment standards according to the degree of intoxication have been subdivided. If a ship operator or pilot of a vessel over 5 tons is caught operating under the influence of alcohol, the penalties are as follows: ▲ blood alcohol concentration of 0.03?0.08% results in imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW ▲ 0.08?0.20% results in imprisonment for 1 to 2 years or a fine of 10 to 20 million KRW ▲ 0.20% or higher results in imprisonment for 2 to 5 years or a fine of 20 to 30 million KRW. Until now, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03% or higher was punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Penalties for habitual drunk operators and those refusing alcohol tests have also been strengthened. The previous regulations did not differentiate penalties based on the number of violations or refusals. From now on, if drunk navigation or refusal of alcohol testing occurs two or more times, the offender will face imprisonment for 2 to 5 years or a fine of 20 to 30 million KRW.

Under the Ship Crew Act, administrative sanctions on maritime licenses have been strengthened for ship alcohol operation. For a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03?0.08% or one refusal of alcohol testing, a six-month suspension of duties will be imposed. Even for a first offense, if the blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher, or if there are two or more violations or if a fatal accident occurs, or if alcohol testing is refused two or more times, the maritime license will be immediately revoked.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.