It would appear that the Captain is going to get the blame for this one. Stories have come out that he was seen in a bar having a few drinks. whether rumour, truth or just planted, who knows.
However it should be remembered that the Captain of a cruise liner is expected to do much more than drive the boat. At the beginning of a cruise, as this was, he is expected to meet and greet various high rollers coming aboard. During a cruise he has his own table and the company arranges for various high rollers to have dinner, whether he likes them or not or can even be bothered. He is expected to 'appear' here and there at dances and so on. During these times his first officer is driving. So if he was in a bar, meeting and greeting, he was not driving! I suppose he was in overall charge, but not at the controls.
This raises a further point. Was there a pilot aboard? These guys known the local waters and have updates of current conditions. They take the ship out of or into a port. Under Maritime Law, they are in charge of the driving, not the officers.
I think it is rather premature, just to blame the Captain here.
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