A ship’s captain has been arrested in New Zealand for reported being intoxicated while attempting to berth his ship.
Police said that they were asked by Maritime New Zealand (Maritime NZ) to assist in the incident on Friday at Port Northland – Marsden Point.
They reportedly breathalysed the captain of the 31,000-dwt China Navigation-owned multi-purpose vessel Shansi (built 2013).
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 police said.
The limit for a seafarer is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and carries a 12 month term of imprisonment or a NZD 10,000 ($7,400) fine.
The man 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 on Saturday and was remanded on bail. He is scheduled to appear again on Monday.
“As the matter is before the court, no further comment can be made,” a police spokesperson added.
