At about 0100 on Monday, 28 December 1998, the container vessel "Gao Cheng" was entering the Port of Nelson with a pilot on board and two tugs in attendance. As the vessel was approaching the entrance to the harbour the pilot reportedly suffered a sudden loss of vision in his right eye.
Incident date: Publish date:On Tuesday, 15 December 1998, at about 1510, the Ukraine registered fishing vessel "Meridian 1" was steaming off Bluff when it grounded on Anchor Ridge close outside Bluff Harbour entrance. The grounding happened when the watchkeeping officer was distracted and failed to adequately monitor the progress of the vessel. After the grounding a Southport (NZ) Limited pilot boarded "Meridian 1" and with the assistance of the 2 harbour tugs, Meridian 1 was refloated and towed into Bluff to assess the damage. No one was injured due to the grounding but "Meridian 1" suffered minor damage.
Incident date: Publish date:[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.]
Incident date: Publish date:On Tuesday, 8 December 1998, at about 1635, the Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard rigid inflatable vessel "Rescue 1" was responding to a Mayday call from a vessel near Motiti Island when it suffered a failure of the outer covers that secured the buoyancy bladders to the hull. The two starboard bladders separated from the hull and the port forward bladder deflated. The vessel continued to Motiti Island and attended the rescue before returning to Tauranga. There were no injuries. Safety issues identified included:
Incident date: Publish date:At about 2125 hours on Friday 4 December 1998, a loss of separation occurred between an Air New Zealand Boeing 767 and a Sunair Piper Aztec near Auckland Airport. Both aircraft were under radar control at the time of the incident. The Boeing 767, on departure from Auckland, was intercepting the Auckland - Rarotonga track and climbing to flight level 250. The Piper Aztec was en route from Hamilton to Whangarei via Auckland, maintaining 7000 feet. The pilot of the Piper Aztec saw the Boeing 767 closing from the left and descended to ensure separation.
Incident date: Publish date:[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.]
Incident date: Publish date:On Tuesday, 17 November 1998, at approximately 1040 hours Train 700, the northbound Coastal Pacific passenger express, was travelling through Hapuku when dragging brake gear on a high speed goods wagon at the head of the train struck and damaged the main line turnouts. The train continued for a further 26 km before the locomotive engineer noted track ballast being thrown up by the dragging brake gear and stopped the train.
Incident date: Publish date:At about 1610 on Friday, 2 October 1998, the jet boat "Terminator" was proceeding at a speed of about 65 km/h down one of many secondary channels on a braided section of the Dart River, when the driver was confronted with an obstacle partially blocking a left hand turn in the channel. As the driver attempted to make the turn around the obstruction, his boat struck it, the driver lost control and the boat skidded sideways into a shingle bank and flipped, trapping some of the passengers beneath the boat. The 11 passengers plus the driver suffered minor to serious injuries.
Incident date: Publish date:[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.]
Incident date: Publish date:On Wednesday 21 October 1998, at approximately 0840 hours, Train 700, the northbound Coastal Pacific express passenger, collided with No. 2 shunt standing in the loop at Rangiora. Train 700 was unintentionally routed onto the loop as it approached Rangiora on the main line. A passenger and crew member sustained minor injuries in the collision.
Incident date: Publish date:On Tuesday 20 October 1998, at approximately 1258 hours, the sliding doors on an Auckland to Waitakere commuter train closed on a child in a pushchair as the mother was endeavouring to lift the pushchair from the train to the platform at Swanson. While attempts were being made to free the pushchair the train moved slowly forward before the doors were opened sufficiently to allow the pushchair to be freed.
Incident date: Publish date:On Thursday 15 October 1998, at about 1407 hours, Train 9282, comprising 4 English Electric multiple unit cars running from Wellington to Johnsonville, derailed while negotiating the turnout from the up main to the down main at the south end of Wadestown.
Incident date: Publish date: