The captain convicted of being five times over the legal alcohol limit has been sacked from the ship's company – a first in its 20 year history.

Pramod Kumar was found to be drunk on the bridge and fined $3000 in Tauranga District Court yesterday following an incident over the weekend.

The African Harrier in the Port of Tauranga on Monday.

In what is the first case of its kind in New Zealand, the 37-year-old pleaded guilty to ‘attempting to perform designated duties' while his breath alcohol level was more than 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

He blew 1229 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath - nearly five times the legal limit.

It is legislation that has been on the New Zealand law books since October 2013, but it is the first time it has been used.

In a statement issued earlier today, MUR Shipping confirmed that Pramod - master of the MV African Harrier - has been relieved of his command at the Port of Tauranga due to a breach of the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Regulation Vlll/1, and the company's own rigorous Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy.

He has been dismissed by the company and a replacement master has been appointed. The vessel has now sailed for Marsden Point.

Pramod has 20 years' experience at sea and has been a captain for five years. Being given the African Harrier as a command was an indication of his standing with his employers.

MUR's chief executive Robert Muirhead is shocked and disappointed by this serious breach of regulations and has immediately ordered a full enquiry into the incident.

'We will ask independent auditors to assist us and ensure the investigation is as comprehensive as possible,” says Robert.

'An incident like this has never happened before in our 20-year history and we will endeavour to ensure it can never happen again.”

The ship arrived at 2am on Friday from Vancouver to discharge bagged fertiliser. At that stage, Captain Kumar had been at sea for 47 days in a voyage that was close to the track of Cyclone Pam in its later stages.

The captain left the ship on Saturday and was called back on Sunday because loading had finished early.

He greeted the pilot on the bridge, who noticed he was drunk and called Maritime New Zealand. Maritime NZ called then called the police to conduct breath testing.

Maritime NZ director Keith Manch says the prosecution and sentence should send a strong message to the maritime industry.

'This sort of conduct by the Master of a vessel cannot be tolerated,” says Keith.

'This outcome is the result of good cooperation between the Port of Tauranga, the Pilot, Maritime NZ and the Police.

'The vast majority of Masters take their responsibilities very seriously but in this case it was clear that firm action was required.”