Restricted-limited charter vessel "Amigo 1", grounding, Grey Group Islands off Great Barrier Island, 12 July 1997
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
97-204
At about 0215 on Saturday, 12 July 1997, the restricted-limit charter vessel "Amigo 1" was en route from Auckland to Great Barrier Island when the skipper made a planned starboard turn too early and the vessel grounded on rocks within the Grey Group Islands, broke up and sank. The skipper was drowned and one of the four passengers is missing, presumed drowned.
Safety issues identified included: over-reliance on global positioning system navigation, inaccessibility and deterioration of life-saving equipment, breach of regulations and poor very high frequency radio coverage in an area of high commercial and pleasure boat activity.
Safety recommendations were made to the Director of Maritime Safety and the Chief Executive of a safe ship management company to address the above safety concerns.
Safety issues identified included: over-reliance on global positioning system navigation, inaccessibility and deterioration of life-saving equipment, breach of regulations and poor very high frequency radio coverage in an area of high commercial and pleasure boat activity.
Safety recommendations were made to the Director of Maritime Safety and the Chief Executive of a safe ship management company to address the above safety concerns.
Location
Grey Group Islands off Great Barrier Island (-36.183611,175.293903) [may be approximate]