Executive summary
On Sunday, 28 January 1996, at approximately 0550 hours, the fishing trawler "San Manukau", enroute from Auckland to North Cape, capsized 15 nautical miles north-north-west of Cape Karikari. One deck-hand was lost, presumed drowned. The vessel was towed into Doubtless Bay where it later sank during attempts to right it. The capsize was caused by the loss of stability due to back-flooding of the fish hold via the vessel's bilge pumping system.
Related Recommendations
Circulate a memorandum to reiterate the following points: Masters and crew check their vessels in accordance with the new hand-over system. No-one relies on non-return valves as a stop for water flooding back into bilges. Bilge alarms are maintained and tested regularly and it is a danger to the vessel and her crew to disconnect them. Bilge pumps are not left running continuously on bilge spaces where there is no indication of the pump's running status unless the bilge is under constant surveillance.
Install a sounding pipe for the void space on the sister vessels to the San Manukau and some means for pumping this space out when it becomes flooded.
Introduce a system on all Sanford vessels for recording on board, all operational, safety and maintenance checks/tasks carried out by the crew or Sanford's shore staff. A work record book with signed entries each time a task or check is completed would serve this purpose.
Introduce a system for a formal hand-over of company vessels from Master to company and back to Master. The system's purpose is to ensure that both the Master and the company are aware of aspects of operation, safety and maintenance for the vessel before the vessel departs the wharf and upon its return. The work record book could form part of the system.
Introduce a system for producing, circulating and keeping on board fleet safety and operational memoranda. The above system should be aimed at informing all crew of such matters.