Denmark's Maersk Supply Service has been penalised by police for a "grossly negligent" breach of navigation regulations following the sinking of two vessels in 2016.

The company said it had accepted a fine of DKK 150,000 ($23,750) relating to the loss of the anchor-handling tug supply units Maersk Searcher and Maersk Shipper (both built 1999).

The ships were unmanned during a tow 60 miles off the coast of France when they went down en route to Turkey for scrapping.