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
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/172326
mnz incidents reports Power failure/grounding… Equipment failure… Equipment failure... May 13 Elizabeth Reef Kawau Island 10.60m NZ fishing (SSM) After experiencing total loss of electrical power, the fishing boat drifted onto rocks and was damaged, leaking oil and taking on water. June (no date) Auckland 21.95m NZ fishing (SSM) Just after sailing water was observed in the engine room, on returning to port the bilges were pumped into a tanker. It was discovered that a breather SS pipe from sea chest leaking where it was joined by a mild steel mac union – the pipe was repaired. June 11 RFT 3 Interisland terminal Wellington 177.43m 22365t NZ ro-ro passenger (NZISM) A refrigerated transport unit began to emit smoke and flames from its exhaust on starting, it was switched off without incident. Near miss/close quarters... June 12 Rangitira Knowl Bay of Plenty 15.70m NZ passenger (SSM) When good fishing goes bad... A charter vessel in the vicinity of Rangitira Knowl snagged a floating line on a trolling line behind the boat. While the line was being freed another fishing vessel approached rapidly and hurled verbal abuse. This abuse was returned, with the subsequent throwing of a heavy sinker from a crewman on board the fishing vessel. This sinker, a "puka bomb", narrowly missed a passenger and careened off a window. At this point the passenger vessel skipper elected to flee the scene at high speed rather than risk passenger safety or boat damage. The fishing vessel followed at speed, catching up to the passenger vessel and further verbal abuse and gestures were exhibited. The matter is also being referred to the police for action. Injury only… May 15 Kaituna Rotorua 4.40m adventure raft SOP A passenger noticed after a trip that he had somehow/ sometime sustained an injury during the trip as his finger was swollen… Equipment failure/injury… May 16 Berth 11 Mount Maunganui Port of Tauranga 180m 22409t bulk carrier foreign SOLAS (ISM) While repairs were being made to the no.4 crane, a lifting weight parted causing the topping lift to run off its winch. Parts of the winch began to come free and fell, striking the fitter in the shoulder and causing fractures to his jaw and collarbone. The injured man was taken to hospital and underwent surgery. Injury only… May 17 Kapiti Island 5.70m NZ diving SOP A diver surfaced too quickly from a crayfish dive. The dive operator contacted coastguard, who met the injured person at the beach, a helicopter and an ambulance as well as police were on the scene. The diver was hospitalised but made full recovery. Near miss/close quarters... May 20 Stirling Point Southland 14.02m NZ fishing vessel On approaching the harbour entrance the vessel altered its course to position on port side of the channel. At the point at which the channel bears to port and visibility is impaired, the vessel was confronted at close quarters with another fishing vessel exiting the harbour. Collision was avoided by altering course to starboard. Near miss/close quarters... May 21 Auckland Harbour approaching Princess Wharf 245m 63,786t passenger foreign SOLAS (ISM) The cruise ship was under staff captain control and its bow came very close to the northern end of the berth. The pilot took over and used tugs to bail the vessel out. After positioning the vessel, the pilot handed back to staff captain. The forward tug skipper informed the bridge that the forward thruster was thrusting vessel on to the berth, when the setting order was for off the berth. Emergency stop was activated on forward thruster and tugs once again used to re-position vessel. Injury only… May 22 Berth 1B downtown Auckland 27.06m NZ passenger (SSM) A female passenger slipped/tripped in a stairwell and fractured her left ankle. Flooded… May 23 Richie Banks Hawke's Bay 17.37m NZ fishing (SSM) A large wave forced a portside window open and water entered the vessel's wheelhouse and galley area, damaging wheelhouse electronics. Collision… May 24 Auckland Ferry Basin 7.30m NZ passenger (SSM) As the vessel slowed to enter the ferry basin, the deckhand was at helm and noticed a water taxi approaching from the starboard side at speed from around Princess Wharf. The skipper who was also in the wheelhouse, instructed the deckhand to give way to vessel and slow down. The water taxi continued on course and speed towards the vessel at an estimated 15 knots. Deckhand slowed and directed the vessel astern. The skipper tried to take control of vessel from another station but was not quick enough, however, they were virtually stopped dead in the water when the water taxi impacted with the starboard bow. On inspection a large hole of about one metre was found above the waterline but they were not taking on any water. The deckhand checked passengers, all were uninjured. The skipper of the water taxi was not coherent and had a large gash on his forehead. The skipper transferred his deckhand and a passenger onto the water taxi to help its skipper and check the vessel, then put out a mayday call and proceeded to Pier 3 in ferry basin with water taxi in tow where the skipper of the water taxi was transferred to an ambulance. 88 June 1 Approaches to Gisborne 179.90m 24428t general cargo/multi-purpose foreign SOLAS (ISM) In something of a he-said she-said report, the skipper of the cargo vessel recalled that during the process of the vessel being brought alongside Gisborne Port the aft tug did not follow the berthing plan as previously discussed. The tug failed to makefast in the position the pilot had required. The second mate used the heavy line lead the tug by hand to make it fast. The tug kept away from the vessel and did not notify the ship's crew. The pilot eventually required preparation of the emergency anchors. Meanwhile, the pilot of the tug reported that the tug was positioned under the centre lead aft and as the tugs line was going up, the ship's crew dropped the line in the tide. Evasive action was taken by the tug master and assisted in the latter part of the berthing with one engine. Near miss/close quarters... June 1 Musick Point Auckland 49.50m NZ passenger (SSM) On the approach to Musick Point Channel from the easterly direction a launch was seen approaching the markers from the Tamaki River side. When the launch became confused as to appropriate evasive action the passenger vessel was forced to apply an emergency stop with reverse in all four engines to avoid collision. Grounding... June 1 Broughton Arm, Breaksea Sound, 10m recreational vessel In extreme weather conditions the craft dragged its anchor, grounded and was subsequently abandoned. Grounding/oil spill... June 2 Whitianga, Waikato/Greater Mercury Island 10.90m recreational vessel On returning from Cuvier Island to the n6 end of Mercury Island the vessel ran aground and was abandoned. The vessel then drifted back towards the skipper who was able to climb back aboard and retrieve some flares. He then abandoned the vessel again to swim to a rock where he set off the flares, alerting the coastguard who arrived on the scene. 400 litres of marine diesel was spilt with unknown environmental effects, the regional council was monitoring the situation at the time of the report. Hit submerged object/propulsion failure... June 2 Waikato river between Port Waikato and Tuakau 4.5m NZ non-passenger workboat Travelling downstream from the Elbow boat ramp to sampling site a submerged log was struck with the prop. The motor cut out and bounced up. After attempting to restart the motor oil began leaking. The workboat was then towed back to boat ramp. Engine was tilted up and all oil retained onboard. Contact... Flip/overturn... June 12 Kaituna River Rotorua 4.60m unpowered raft A customer dislocated a shoulder when a raft flipped at the bottom of Tutea Falls. He was rafted back to base and then transferred to Rotorua hospital for treatment. Injury only... 15 June Berth 5 Port of Napier Hawke's Bay 231m 36,007t container ship foreign SOLAS (ISM) During a container exchange while guiding spreader onto lid, swell caused the vessel to move and the finger of the stevedore working on board was jammed between the crane spreader and hatch cover. Injury only... Northport Berth 2 Northland 190m 20,886 general cargo foreign SOLAS (ISM) During the loading of the vessel at Marsden point a crewman entered a company's operational area without permission or notification, which resulted in the crewman being struck with a log and causing him to be hospitalised overnight. Extreme vessel movement/contact... June 16 Maritime Museum Marina Auckland 18.30m sail training NZ passenger (SSM) Extreme vessel movement due to weather caused vessel mooring cleat to explode. The bow swung around and contacted with a pile, riding up and becoming impaled, and the stern made contact with marina pontoon causing damage. Propellor entangled/structural failure... June 17 Ruakaka Bay sea farm, Queen Charlotte Sound 19.10 aquaculture NZ non-passenger (SSM) A breeze blew the vessel off position while mooring at aquaculture farm. The rope from a tyre fender became caught around the prop, resulting in the stern leg suffering damage. The vessel was judged to be seaworthy to travel to the closest port (Picton) on a single stern leg. Injury only... Injury only... June 6 Tutea Fall Kaituna River 4.40m adventure raft SOP A guide was hit in the ribcage by a client's paddle while descending a waterfall, on completion of the trip the guide was taken to A&E. June 18 CQ4 Berth Lyttelton Port 264m 41,899t container ship foreign SOLAS (ISM) A cargo lash-man working bay 41 FWD end stepped 0.5m down from hatch and rolled his right ankle. Electrical power failure... June 7 Auckland 26m NZ fishing (SSM) Relay controlling power to main engine failed. System bypassed and the vessel returned to port and the problem was repaired. June 18 Berth 3 Port of Tauranga 175m 18,179t cargo ship foreign SOLAS (ISM) As the cargo vessel was preparing to let go mooring lines a tug was under the bow making the towline fast for departure. Without warning, the cargo vessel anchor was released, narrowly missing the tug. Collision... Chemical or harmful substance spill... June 7 Waitangi Chatham Island 9.10m NZ fishing (SSM) The vessel clipped a rock while approaching an unfamiliar mooring causing a small hole in the bow and flooding. June 18 Refining jetty No.1 Northland 185m 30,636t chemical tanker foreign SOLAS (ISM) Four drums of chemicals fell from a pallet into the sea while being hoisted on board by ship's crane from tug boat. The pallet is reported to appear to be flimsy. Injury only... June 10 Half Moon Bay Auckland 49.50m 573t NZ passenger/vehicular ferry A crewmember was injured while pulling in the line and continued their shift until realising the injury was significant. Professional Skipper September/October 2013 Near miss/close quarters... Mooring line failure... June 20 Interislander Ferry Terminal Wellington 177.34m 22,365t ro-ro NZ passenger (NZISM) The vessel experienced mooring failure during very high winds. www.skipper.co.nz