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An employee who argued he was trying to keep customers "happy" when he caused $150k damage to his employer's property has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission he was unfairly dismissed.

The employee was a captain with some 27 years' experience. In May, he was master of a vessel that collided with a channel marker when returning to port after a two-hour charter. In addition to the vessel's damage, a deck hand was almost crushed between it and the marker.

Following an investigation into the incident, the employer, Ahoy Club Fleet Management Pty Ltd, determined the employee had breached its safety systems, policies and the terms of his contract.

But while conceding the incident was "very severe and extreme", the employee argued his dismissal was unfair...