Danish ship captain fined

A Danish ship captain was fined Lm1,000 after he admitted to navigating his vessel into a restricted zone within Maltese territorial waters on Friday night.

Frank Schmidt, 46, as the master of the vessel MT Erria Maria pleaded guilty to navigating the ship through a prohibited zone in terms of the Berthing Regulations and failing to comply with directions given by the Malta Maritime Authority at about 9.16 p.m.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke noted that Mr Schmidt had cooperated with the authorities in their investigation and admitted the charges brought against him in the initial stages of the court proceedings.

Police Inspector Alfred Mallia prosecuted.