Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Thursday, 4 December 1997, the tug "Sea-Tow 22" was towing the barge "Sea-Tow 17" inbound across the Greymouth Bar. The tow line parted at about 0500, just as the barge was entering the moles at the entrance to the Grey River. The run in the river carried the barge back out over the bar and, despite several attempts, the crew were not able to retrieve the tow. The tug collided with the barge during one of the retrieval attempts, and ran aground. The barge grounded shortly after. The tug was able to re-float, unaided, on the next rising tide and pull the barge off the beach.

At 0200 on Wednesday, 3 December 1997, while the Ro-Ro general cargo vessel "Union Rotoma" was on passage from Melbourne to Auckland, fire broke out in the engine room disabling one of its two engines, and causing substantial damage to electrical wiring and control systems. The crew used a fixed carbon dioxide extinguishing plant to put out the fire, and after the crew spent several hours making temporary repairs, the vessel was able to proceed on one engine to Sydney, the closest port of refuge.

On Monday 1 December 1997, at about 1015, the dinghy, "Solo", with eleven persons on board, was proceeding on a school trip across Nelson Harbour to Haulashore Island. The boat encountered sea conditions with waves in excess of its freeboard and swamped. There were no injuries.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

Between 17 October 1997 and 12 January 1998 various Boeing 767 and 747 aircraft were flown with unrestrained unit load devices or pallets. In four cases the cargo was able to move freely along the adjacent empty spaces in the cargo hold of the aircraft. An investigation of the first incident was initiated in Sydney, at the Commission’s request, by the Australian Bureau of Air Safety Investigation. While that investigation was in progress four further incidents occurred.

On Thursday 13 November 1997, at about 2130, the tug "York Syme" with six persons on board and with a loaded barge "H7" in tow, grounded on a reef north-east of Maria Island in the Hauraki Gulf. "H7" passed partly through the reef and grounded. The trailing towline fouled the propeller of "York Syme" while its engine was going astern. There were no injuries. Safety issues identified were poor watchkeeping practices, failure to keep a proper lookout and working routines leading to fatigue.

On Wednesday 12 November 1997, at about 1140 hours, the door at the west portal of the Otira Tunnel closed on the side of Train 801, the westbound TranzAlpine. The impact caused minor damage and there were no injuries. The door closed because of an unintended activation of the control system by Train 801. An optical sensor which could have prevented the closure was not functioning due to a loose electrical connection. Safety issues identified were a deficiency in the signalling design logic for the door control and the lack of a fail-safe optical sensor safety system.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

On Friday 17 October 1997, Train 1605 was conveying approximately 60 passengers from Masterton to Wellington on its scheduled service. At 1050 hours when 2.5 km into the 8.8 km long Rimutaka Tunnel the train was stopped as a result of an electrical failure in the locomotive control gear. At 1258 hours a relief locomotive was able to clear the disabled service from the tunnel. There were no injuries.

Between 17 October 1997 and 12 January 1998 various Boeing 767 and 747 aircraft were flown with unrestrained unit load devices or pallets. In four cases the cargo was able to move freely along the adjacent empty spaces in the cargo hold of the aircraft. An investigation of the first incident was initiated in Sydney, at the Commission’s request, by the Australian Bureau of Air Safety Investigation. While that investigation was in progress four further incidents occurred.

On Tuesday 14 October 1997, at about 0815 hours a 3.7 m log fell from a wagon forming part of Train C25, a Kinleith to Mount Maunganui log train, as it passed through Tokoroa. The log cartwheeled for 38 m, cleared a 1.8 m high fence and came to rest on a trampoline in a residential property.

At about 1600 on Saturday, 11 October 1997, the Wellington Coastguard rigid inflatable craft "UDC Rescue" was engaged on a routine patrol near the entrance to Wellington Harbour, when the craft suffered a failure of the bags that secured the buoyancy bladders to the hull, resulting in two of the four bladders separating from the craft. Two crew were transferred to an assisting vessel and the skipper and one remaining crew member were able to beach the craft without further damage. Nobody was injured in the incident.