Ship master caught five times over alcohol limit

Pramod Kumar, 36, pleaded guilty to a charge of operating a ship with an excess breath. Photo / John Borren

The ship master in charge of a 37, 000 tonne fertiliser carrier ship has been fined $3000 for operating the ship while almost five times the permitted alcohol limit.

Pramod Kumar, 36, pleaded guilty to a charge of operating a ship with an excess breath alcohol when he appeared in Tauranga District Court today.

On March 22 this year, Kumar breached the Maritime Transport Act, by being a master of the carrier ship African Harrier while he attempted to perform "designated safety" duties, while his breath alcohol exceeded 250 micrograms.

When Kumar was breath tested by police while the ship was docked at the Port of Tauranga he was found to have an alcohol reading of 1229 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The African Harrier in Port today. Photo/John Borren

The bull carrier vessel African Harrier, which arrived in the Port of Tauranga from Vancouver on March 20, sailed to Marsden Point this afternoon.

The vessel is currently flying under the flag of Bahamas.

Judge Robert Wolff told Kumar that the consequences of his offending were significant in terms of potential risk to the other 22 crew, the public and to the environment.

The judge was told the fine would be paid today as Kumar was expected to fly to Mumbai this evening.