A ship’s captain and chief officer have been fined for failing to cross the shipping lanes correctly. At a hearing on Tuesday Captain Mehmet Salih Bayraktar and Chief Officer Alper Cevirgen were fined £400 and £500 costs, and £600 and £500 costs respectively for failing to comply with Rule 10(c) of the International Regulations for prevention of Collision at Sea.

The men had been onboard Turkish registered vessel Nuri Sonay on 29 July when it crossed from the north-east lane of the Dover Straits Traffic Separation Scheme into the English Inshore Traffic Zone. Instead of crossing on the recommended course of 315°, the ship’s course was nearer to 010°.

In passing sentence the magistrates said: ‘This is a very busy shipping lane. It is concerning that there was a lack of supervision of the passage plan. Any vessel not complying with the rules of the International Regulations poses a serious hazard to other vessels and the crews on them.’