Magistrate Ian Cheetham said Lu Chih-Ming had displayed "reckless behaviour" during a trip to Newcastle on the 154,000-dwt China Steel Developer (built 1998) in January, the Brisbane Times reported.
Defence barrister Paul Santone said his client had left Mackay under the belief a pilot would be joining him by helicopter before reaching the restricted area.
He said when Lu was notified he had crossed into the area he "responded quickly" by immediately turning around.
Magistrate
