Too drunk to sail - police called after captain too drunk to berth ship

The captain of a logging ship appeared to be intoxicated. Photo / File

A captain has been charged after trying to berth a 40,000 tonne logging ship while drunk.

A pilot, who was assisting the docking of the Shansi at North Port - Marsden Point - on Friday afternoon, thought the captain was under the influence of alcohol.

He contacted Maritime NZ which called the police asking for help.

The ship's captain, a 53-year-old Englishman from Devon, blew what police have described as "an exceptionally high reading" at about 2pm.

The limit for a 'seafarer' is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and carries a 12 month term of imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.

He was arrested and charged with an offence under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 s40c - contravenes specified breath or blood-alcohol limit.

The man was remanded on bail after appearing in the Whangarei District Court this morning.

He's due to reappear on Monday.