What Crew Members Say About African-Harrier

A maritime incident unfolded at the Port of Tauranga when Pramod Kumar, 37, was discovered intoxicated while on the bridge of the bulk carrier African Harrier. The captain has since been fined $3,000 for attempting to fulfill his duties while under the influence of alcohol. On Sunday, Tauranga police conducted a breath test which revealed Kumar's alcohol level at 1229 micrograms of alcohol per liter of breath—nearly five times the acceptable limit of 250 mg/l. The African Harrier had just completed a 47-day journey, arriving at the port around 2 a.m. on Friday to discharge its cargo of bagged fertilizer. After disembarking on Saturday, Kumar was summoned back on Sunday when loading operations concluded ahead of schedule. While on the bridge, the vessel's pilot noticed Kumar's inebriated state and promptly notified Maritime New Zealand, which in turn contacted the local police. Kumar's attorney, Nicholas Dutch, noted that at the time, the African Harrier was still docked and highlighted that the ship is traditionally steered by a pilot, with the first or second officer taking command afterward. However, Kumar's presence on the bridge legally obligated him to oversee the vessel’s operations. His lawyer acknowledged that Kumar should have avoided the bridge entirely and opted for rest instead. Having served as a captain for five years, Kumar's assignment to the African Harrier marked a significant achievement in his career. Unfortunately, upon his return to Mumbai, he may face serious economic ramifications due to this incident. Judge Robert Wolff pointed out that since the ship was still secured at the dock and other crew members were capable of assuming Kumar’s responsibilities, there was no immediate danger posed. Kumar ultimately received a fine of $3,000 along with $130 in court costs. It's noteworthy that Kumar is the first individual to face charges under new regulations established following a law amendment in October 2013, marking a crucial moment in maritime safety enforcement.

In a significant breach of maritime safety regulations, Parmod Kumar, a 36-year-old ship master, was fined $3,000 for navigating the 37,000-tonne fertiliser carrier ship African Harrier while under the influence of alcohol. Kumar appeared in Tauranga District Court on [today's date] and pleaded guilty to charges relating to exceeding the legal breath alcohol limit by nearly five times. On March 22, 2023, he operated the vessel while his breath alcohol level reached an alarming 1,229 micrograms per litre, far beyond the legal threshold of 250 micrograms as set by the Maritime Transport Act. This incident occurred while the African Harrier was docked at the Port of Tauranga, highlighting serious concerns for maritime safety and protocol adherence.