An American tourist was fined $200 at Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to trespassing at a cruise ship terminal in Hamilton without the permission of the Director of Marine and Ports.

The court heard that at 11.40 p.m. on May 30, Peter James D'Amato, entered the dock area on Front Street and hopped over a fence — despite marked signs warning that the area was a restricted zone.

He was spotted by security officers who questioned him, before calling Police.

He was subsequently arrested under the Maritime Security Act and taken to Hamilton Police Station.

D'Amato told Acting Magistrate Justin Williams: "At the time I was curious. I climbed the fence and one of the security guards called me and I was taken to the Police station."

D'Amato apologised to the court and said he was vacationing on the Island. Mr. Williams ordered that he pay the fine by the end of the day or spend a default time of 20 days in prison.