The Master of the 30,700 dwt Shansi was arrested after the pilot helping bring the vessel into Northport Harbour thought the Captain appeared to be drunk, the Northern Advocate reported.
The pilot reported the incident to Maritime NZ who in turn asked for help from the Whangarei police.
The police helped with breath testing the 53-year old Master who was reported to have an “exceptionally high reading”. The Master was charged with an offence under New Zealand’s Maritime Transport Act.
The limit for a ‘seafarer’ is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and breaching the limit carries a 12 month term of imprisonment or a NZD10,000 ($7,400) fine.
The man appeared in Whangarei District Court on Saturday morning and was remanded on bail, and was due to appear in court again on Monday.
The vessel had been waiting a number of days to berth to load logs.
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