Tuna boat skipper gets help

Police were called to help Nelson harbour authorities yesterday after a tuna boat skipper allegedly was too drunk to navigate his vessel into port.

Police said the Maritime Safety Authority would be investigating the incident after the vessel's other crew member rang authorities about 1pm. He said the vessel was about six nautical miles from Nelson and he did not know how to pilot it.

The 31-year-old Christchurch man was placed in the police cells for detoxification. He was also charged with assault over an earlier incident.