Ship's captain arrested after trouble berthing ship

Police were asked by Maritime NZ on Friday to assist at an incident involving an intoxicated ship’s captain at Port Northland – Marsden Point.
 
Police helped the Maritime Safety Unit by breath testing the captain of the Shansi – a 40,000 tonne logging ship – who appeared intoxicated.
 
A pilot, who was assisting the docking of the ship, thought the captain of the ship appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and contacted Maritime NZ, who asked Whangarei Police to assist.
 
The ship's captain, a 53-year-old Englishman from Devon, blew what was described as an exceptionally high reading.
 
The limit for a 'seafarer' is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and carries a 12 month term of imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.
 
He was subsequently arrested and  charged with an offence under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 s40c - contravenes specified breath or blood-alcohol limit.  
 
The man appeared in Whangarei District Court this morning and was remanded on bail. He is scheduled to appear again on Monday 7 August.
 
As the matter is before the court, no further comment can be made.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.