New Zealand, Rena, Astrolabe, Senior Crew Jailed

The captain and navigational officer of a cargo ship which ran aground off New Zealand last year have each been sentenced to seven months in prison.

The Tauranga District Court heard that the men's gross incompetence bordered on recklessness, and that they then tried to cover up their mistakes by altering ship documents after the grounding.

The officers were in charge of the Liberian-flagged Rena when it hit the Astrolabe Reef seven months ago, spilling more than 350 tonnes of oil and hundreds of shipping containers. The ensuing oil slick killed thousands of birds and fouled beaches in the North Island's pristine Bay of Plenty. It has been described as New Zealand's worst environmental maritime disaster.

There were no words from Rena captain Mauro Balomaga and second officer Leonil Relon as they entered court, but their actions haunt a community still cleaning up oil and debris.

The court heard Balomaga took no action to avoid the reef when it appeared on radar, assuming it was a false signal or a small vessel. The court also heard Relon changed the ship's course to avoid late entry into Tauranga after the captain urged that corners be cut. The pair had pleaded guilty in February to a range of charges, including attempting to pervert the course of justice by altering navigation records after the accident. They also admitted to operating a ship in a dangerous manner and discharging harmful substances from the cargo vessel.

Prosecutors had been seeking at least a

two-year jail term for the pair. Defence lawyers argued for home detention, saying their clients had pleaded guilty, had apologised to local Maori affected by the spill, and were remorseful.

Maritime New Zealand director Keith Manch welcomed the sentences, saying the ship's officers had to be held accountable for their actions. "This grounding has had significant consequences for the Bay of Plenty community and the country as a whole," he said. "Today marks a milestone in the response, which is still underway."

Colin Reeder, who represents the local

Maori community in the Bay of Plenty, says his people have forgiven the men.

"They were only one cog in the machine that caused this disaster. We'd rather direct our anger and rage at the system that allowed this to happen," he said. "The two men made a mistake that was generated by the need to save time. The route cause must be fixed as the potential for disaster will still be there."

Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby says some local businesses lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Daina Shipping Company has also been charged with discharging harmful substances. The offence carries a fine of

$480,000 and $80,000 for every day the offending continues. The wrecked ship's stern sank in heavy weather in April, causing more debris to wash ashore.