More charges have been laid against the master and second officer of the grounded container ship Rena.
Both men now face a charge under the Resource Management Act relating to the discharge of oil from the vessel.
They had previously been charged under the Maritime Act with operating a vessel in a manner which caused unneccessary danger or risk to people or property.
The new charge carries a maximum penalty of a $300,000 fine or two years' imprisonment as well as $10,000 for every day the offending continues.
The two men made a brief appearance in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday morning and have been remanded on bail without plea until next month.
The men, who have been granted continued name suppression, have been staying at an undisclosed location.
