Government will not comment on a pilot convicted of driving a public ferry into a floating dock while impaired until an investigation has been completed.

A Ministry of Transport spokeswoman said inquiries surrounding Ascot Lightbourne and his piloting licence were still ongoing and that the ministry “will provide comment on it when appropriate”.

The statement was made two days after The Royal Gazette requested a comment on the Government ferry pilot, who was fined $1,000 on Monday after he admitted being at the wheel of the Serenity while impaired.

The ministry was also asked if it had considered tougher penalties for control of a boat while impaired but did not comment by press time.

Lightbourne, who pleaded guilty to the offence on January 4, was suspended from the job at the start of the year pending an investigation.

Scott Pearman, the shadow minister for transport and legal affairs, said the silence was “deafening” and called on the ministry to address the questions around boating laws.

He asked: “Where is the Minister of Transport on all of this?”

Mr Pearman added: “In December, the Government reviewed and replaced the Marine and Port Services Act. Why was this issue not addressed then?

“During the Parliamentary Debate the Opposition specifically asked the transport minister about alcohol limits on the water.

“We specifically asked how these limits compared with bus drivers.

“We asked why people who operate boats for hire, with members of the public on board, can do so having consumed alcohol.

“The Transport Minister’s silence then – and his silence now – is deafening.”

Mr Pearman was speaking after Lightbourne, 60, did not have his boating licence suspended for piloting the Serenity while impaired.

Juan Wolffe, the senior magistrate, said that he could not suspend Lightbourne’s licence, which is automatic for drink driving offences, because it was not included in the law – but he added that he would have done so if he could.

Mr Wolffe also appealed to the Government to impose stiffer mandatory penalties for impaired boating offences.

The sentence also drew outrage from Michael Weeks, the chairman of the Water Safety Council and a Progressive Labour Party MP, who called for regulations on the water to be brought in line with those for the roads.

Mr Pearman said: “MP Michael Weeks is quite right to say ’a ferry is just a bus on the water, so what would have happened if a bus driver was driving a bus full of our children in the same state, or our seniors?’

“The magistrate is also right to be frustrated that the court is unable to take away the driver’s licence to pilot a ferry.”

He added: “It is completely unacceptable for someone to drive a ferry while impaired – period.

“Bermudians are very fortunate this completely avoidable incident did not lead to serious injury or loss of life.”

Marine legislation lists a $1,000 maximum fine and/or a year in jail for a first drink boating offence.

The maximum penalty is increased to a $4,000 fine and/or two years imprisonment for further convictions.

The House of Assembly last December backed tougher impaired boating laws, which included an alcohol limit of 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for the skippers of vessels operated for “hire or reward”.

But the bill did not include a provision to ban convicted impaired boaters from putting to sea.

Serenity collided with the Hamilton terminal around 1.25pm on December 31 last year.

Another crew member took command of the ferry, which was headed to Dockyard, and Lightbourne was escorted back to the overnight dock in Hamilton where he admitted he had been drinking.

Police were called and attempted to arrest Lightbourne but he pushed police and kicked out at them as he was arrested.

The officers called for assistance and Lightbourne was subdued.

He pleaded guilty to impaired boating and two counts of assaults on police officers.

A social inquiry report was ordered and the case was adjourned until Monday for sentencing.

Lightbourne was also fined a total of $1,000 on Monday for the assaults.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.