A ferry skipper has been fined for using a cellphone at the helm - and hitting a navigation buoy

Craig James Sullivan was on his phone for two minutes, when the Fullers ferry he was driving hit a lit Waitemata Harbour buoy in April last year.

Sullivan has been fined 2500 dollars for failing to maintain a proper lookout - and causing unnecessary danger.

Maritime NZ Northern regional manager Neil Rowarth says Sullivan's inattention meant he disabled a key aid to navigation and created a hazard to other vessels.

Later that night, a Ports of Auckland pilot boat was damaged when it struck the buoy.