The master of a Swire controlled ship involved in a high profile oil spill off Australia last year is set to deny a criminal pollution charge.

Bernardino Gonzales Santos the 48 year old Filipino master of the 24,000-dwt multipurpose vessel Pacific Adventurer (built 1991) appeared in a Brisbane court today accused of discharging oil into the sea off Queensland.

Bernardino Gonzales Santos
Santos faces a fine of AUD 350,000 ($294,000) if convicted.