New Zealand court charges oil-spill captain

The captain of a cargo ship that has spilled hundreds of tons of oil since striking a reef off the New Zealand coast has appeared in court to face criminal charges.

The 44-year-old Filipino, whose name has not been revealed publicly, was charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk and was released on bail when he appeared in Tauranga District Court, near where his ship appeared to be breaking up in mountainous seas.