The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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In brief… Two Tenders Announced MIT CO-HOSTS WORKSHOP AND DISPLAYS NEW SIMULATOR MANUKAU INSTITUTE OF Technology's New Zealand Maritime School welcomed marine pilots from around Australasia for a two-day workshop at its downtown Auckland campus. "Recent developments in the Maritime rules require continued professional education for marine pilots and workshops together with simulator and other short courses help us fulfil this requirement," said New Zealand Maritime Pilots Association President, Captain Neil Armitage. Workshop speakers included Captain John Ireland from Port Taranaki, whose innovations have made the port one of the safest in New Zealand despite its west coast position. The new facility with seven bridges can also simulate full mission controls for various ships including tug boats, cruise ships, container ships and bulk carriers. It has detailed Electronic Navigation Charts, Multi-function displays showing radar and conning screens and it can be used for port specific training. "Simulators are hugely important for ongoing training of pilots of all levels of experience. The biggest advantage is that you can train for emergencies in simulated conditions," Ireland says. Lady Anna rolls with tragic results TRAGEDY STRUCK AT Greymouth bar when fishing vessel Lady Anna rolled, claiming the life of one crewmember. The two surviving fishermen were able to cling to a flotation device and were subsequently taken to Grey Base Hospital. Later the body of the third man was recovered. A rescue helicopter and another fishing vessel as well as members of the public assisted in the rescue. Barbara Dunn, spokeswoman for Greymouth police, said there had been "huge seas and strong wind" when the boat rolled. "It's a notoriously tricky entrance," she said. A witness said that when he arrived the three men were clinging to the capsized boat in the mouth of the Grey River. Moments later, the men had let go of the boat and were floating free. Two quickly drifted around to the Cobdon side of the mouth but according to the witness, the third man appeared to be in trouble. As the third man also drifted around to the Cobden side of the river mouth attempts were made to throw him life preserver rings. Grey District Council general manager Paul Pretorius commented on the conditions of the night before. "The sea was as flat as can be." The blue safety light that was installed after the fatal capsizing on the bar in 2000 of the Koromiko was not on that night. "There was no reason to have it on," Pretorius said. "It's one of the most dangerous bars in the country, that is a reality," he said. "Even experienced fishermen get caught out on the bar." Following the Koromiko tragedy, the council had been advised to install monitoring equipment, appoint a harbour master and install a signal to indicate dangerous conditions. As the port was "operating on a deficit" they had decided not to appoint a harbour master, Pretorius said. There was no port manager either. "We survey the bar on a regular basis," he said. "A harbour master would not have stopped this morning from happening." Greymouth coastguard spokesman Doug Griffin said the Grey River bar was known for boating tragedies and there was "no simple answer" as to why the bar was notorious for accidents. "There's a whole raft of reasons why people come aground on the bar." Auckland International Airport invited New Zealand companies to tender for the design and build of two new rescue craft for Auckland Airport. The airport intends to purchase one vessel of approximately 11m, aluminium powercat, jet propulsion and another that will be an 11m monohull aluminium pontoon boat, jet propulsion. The Department of Conservation also sought tenders for a new replacement aluminium vessel to be based on Little Barrier Island – Te Hauturu o Toi, that will be used for the ship to shore transfer of up to six persons, including skipper, and equipment to a combined total of 500kg. Fire on Honey Dew The ex English Navy mine-sweeper Honey Dew caught fire 500m offshore between the Knights Point lookout and Haast on the West Coast on April 12. The four fishermen on board were rescued at sunrise after their flare was sighted by a hunter who alerted a local lodge owner, Gerry McSweeney. Fisherman Kerry Eggeling and West Coast search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Sean Judd were informed, Judd commenting later that the cause of the fire was unknown. Another fishing boat in the area, the Grace Mary skippered by Nathan Sulman, was on hand to rescue the crewmembers. The fire caused the boat to take on water and a few hours later only the mast of Greymouth-based fishing vessel was above water. Honey Dew has been owned by Kelvin Fawcett of Greymouth for the past 26 years and the skipper on board at the time was Ross Coppell. Fawcett commented that the boat had undergone its four yearly survey in November last year. "Things are a little sketchy at this point of time but the boat was inshore trawl fishing at the time of the incident about one and a half miles off Knights Point,'' Fawcett said. The sinking of the boat, which is understood to have had two and a half tonnes of diesel on board, has raised concerns about the likelihood of its leaking from the vessel and contaminating the coastline. West Coast Regional Council Planning and Environment manager Mike Meehan said they would be putting a plane up, and he expects that the fuel would break up due to the "high energy'' coastline. May/June 2013 Professional Skipper 49