The captain of the 32,300-dwt Lake Triview (built 2009) has already been convicted of failing to notify authorities of the incident quickly enough.

Rolando Legaspi, a 63-year-old Filipino, pleaded guilty to the charge after his ship hit the Waiwhakaiho Reef north of Port Taranaki on 24 May.

He was fined NZD 2000 ($1,700) plus costs.

An investigation which followed the incident has now resulted in both the captain and his chief officer Romelito De Asis being charged with four counts each of disturbing or damaging the seabed.

The