Sea and drink are often linked. Even the greatest sailors have always had a good bottle on board. Whether it is pirates' rum or Eric Tarbaly's red wine, alcohol has always remained the sailors' good companion. New measures could prevent us from enjoying it... Boaters, are we going to let ourselves be deprived to have the right to take the helm?
This Wednesday, March 1, 2017, a bill whose main measure is to introduce a blood alcohol level on board ships, was introduced by the government in the Council of Ministers. It aims to protect the health of seafarers by combating alcoholism at sea and to limit accidents involving seafarers.
So, in the same way as the Highway Traffic Act, "the concentration of alcohol in the blood equal to or greater than 0.50 grams per litre shall be prohibited for professional seafarers on board ships and persons engaged in the occupation of marine pilot."
This bill ratifies Ordinance No. 2016-1686 of 8 December 2016 on seafarers' medical fitness to navigate and the fight against alcoholism at sea and was introduced by Alain Vidalies, Secretary of State for Transport, the Sea and Fisheries and Ségolène Royal, Minister for the Environment, Energy and the Sea, in charge of International Climate Relations.
Checks at sea may be carried out by the sea and port control services, but also by the masters of vessels who may check their staff. In the event of actual drunkenness or alcohol, the vessel may be adjourned.
" Criminal sanctions are defined. Crimes are thus planned for the personnel with high responsibilities, such as the captain, the chief engineer and any person ensuring the visual and auditory watch. Other seafarers may be subject to fines" explains Alain Vidalies.
Whew, these are only professionals... Boater friends, you can continue to enjoy an aperitif in your cockpit, with your friends without fear of repression... in moderation all the same !
