Overview

• On August 13, a 54-year-old skipper registered a breath-alcohol level of 3.12‰ and crashed his 8.5-metre yacht into a pier at Rostock seaport, subsequently blocking the ferry Skåne from completing its maneuver.
• Under the Seeschifffahrtsstraßenordnung and Binnenschifffahrtsstraßenordnung, all vessel operators on German coastal and inland waters must maintain a BAC at or below 0.5‰, regardless of craft type.
• A BAC of 0.3‰ may trigger penalties if impairment is evident, 1.1‰ indicates absolute unfitness to operate, and readings of 1.6‰ or higher can lead to a mandatory medical-psychological assessment.
• Penalties range from fines of approximately €350 to €2,500 for readings between 0.5‰ and 1.09‰ to possible criminal charges with up to five years’ imprisonment and revocation of a motor-vehicle license for severe or repeated offences.
• Regional variations apply, such as an elevated 0.8‰ limit on Lake Constance and a stricter 0.2‰ threshold on certain border rivers like the West Oder and Lausitzer Neiße.