The skipper of a Belgium registered beam trawler has been ordered to pay a total of £2,345 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to offences under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs).

Jeffry Demeester, the skipper of FV Deborah, appeared at West Hampshire Magistrates Court last Thursday.

During the early hours of January 18, 2012, the Hong Kong registered tanker Sea Transport was in the Bristol Channel waiting for orders to enter Milford Haven. The tanker was fully loaded, with an estimated 90,000 tonnes of crude oil on board. Weather conditions at the time were poor with driving rain.

The FV Deborah was outward bound from Milford Haven heading towards Belgium. The skipper was alone on the bridge. He did notice the ship on AIS and radar, but made an incorrect assessment that he would miss the ship. He did not realise that the FV Deborah was on a collision course with the Sea Transport.

Shortly after 1 am on January 18 and approximately 14 miles from the entrance to Milford Haven, the bow of the trawler ran into the port quarter of the tanker making a deep gash above the waterline on the side of the ship causing extensive damage. Nobody was injured and there was no reported pollution.

In sentencing, the court took into consideration his previous good character and full co-operation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in this matter as well as his early plea of guilty to the charges.

Robert Cotter, surveyor in charge at the MCA's Cardiff Marine Office, said: "The rules state that every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision. This incident was a direct result of that rule not being adhered to."