The captain and second officer of a ship that caused New Zealand's biggest sea pollution disaster when it ploughed into an offshore reef have been jailed for seven months.
The Filipino officers were in charge of the Liberian-flagged Rena when it hit the reef last year, releasing an oil slick that killed thousands of sea birds and fouled beaches in the North Island's pristine Bay of Plenty.
The Liberian-flagged MV Rena hit a reef off the North Island on 5 October 2011. Hundreds of tonnes of fuel oil leaked out, causing widespread pollution.
An interim report by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission stated that the accident occurred as the crew took shortcuts to meet a deadline to reach port.
Prosecutors said the crew had ignored basic navigation practices and deviated substantially from the approved course as they hurried to get to Tauranga port.