The captain whose wrecked ship caused New Zealand's worst environmental disaster in decades arrives at court to learn his fate.<br/> <br />Mauro Balomaga and navigation officer Leonil Relon admitted several offences over the grounding of the Rena on a reef last October.<br/> <br />They were each jailed for seven months after the court heard they took shortcuts to make Tauranga port on time.<br/> <br />Salvage teams are still removing containers from the wreck.<br/> <br />About 300 tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the ocean, killing thousands of sea birds and polluting beaches up to 100 kilometres away.<br/> <br />The Rena's owner, Daina Shipping, is charged with discharging harmful substances.<br/> <br />The offence carries a fine of up to 451, 000 U.S. dollars plus 10, 000 dollars for each day the offending goes on.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
