Europe News
German police detain Lithuanian ship with drunk crew
By DPA
Mar 17, 2007, 17:15 GMT

Berlin - German water police halted a freighter sailing under a Lithuanian flag early Saturday after finding it was manned by a drunk captain and engineer.

According to police in the northern port of Brunsbuettel, the captain had 2.03 parts per thousand of alcohol in his bloodstream, while the engineer had 2.94 parts per thousand.

In terms of the regulations in force on German roads, the captain's alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit, while the engineer was close to six times the limit.

The 102-metre freighter, bound from Belgium to Estonia, would have to remain some 24 hours in port while the crew sobered up, police said, adding they were opening a docket on the captain and the engineer.