The Captain of the Panama-registered oil and chemical tanker ‘Pegasus’ was fined $1,000 and removed from his position for exceeding the alcohol limit in New Zealand waters, prior departing New Plymouth on the evening of December 11.
According to data provided by Maritime NZ, New Plymouth pilots became concerned at Mr Saurabh Kumar Singh’s behaviour when they boarded SG Pegasus to help guide the tanker out of New Plymouth Harbour. The pilots contacted Maritime NZ’s local Maritime Officer who attended on board with Police. The Captain failed an initial breath test on board and was then taken to the local police station for an evidential breath test which he also failed. Police subsequently prosecuted the man on behalf of Maritime NZ.
The Master had a reading exceeding 880 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, breaching the Maritime Transport Act limit of 250 micrograms for seafarers onboard international ships. The Master was also in breach of shipping company Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Singapore’s policy that the vessel is a ‘dry-ship’, meaning that no alcohol can be onboard at any time.
The tanker was due to sail on to Nelson and then Lyttleton, but Maritime NZ ordered that the vessel remain in New Plymouth while a replacement Master was put on board in order to meet safe manning standards.
Maritime NZ’s Regional Manager Central, Michael-Paul Abbott, said that the sentencing of a cargo ship’s Captain is a strong reminder and warning to seafarers:
The prosecution today is a stern reminder that swift action will be taken if we find seafarers over the limit. The master is legally responsible for their ship and all on board, and must be able to carry out their duties safely…His decision to drink while in charge of his ship put his crew, seafarers on other ships, and even the environment, local economies and communities at risk.