The captain of a P&O cruiseship has been fined in France over a breach of fuel rules.

Evans Hoyt, 58, from the US, was convicted in Marseille of burning oil with 1.68% sulphur, 0.18% above the European limit, The Guardian reported.

A spot check had been made on the 115,000-gt Azura (built 2010) in March.

Hoyt was fined EUR 100,000 ($113,600) in the ruling, a first in France.