MO-1998-212

On Thursday, 24 September 1998, at about 1710, the restricted-limit passenger catamaran "Scat Cat" foundered off Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. The vessel had been on a one-hour sight-seeing tour with two crew and seven passengers, including four children, on board. The passengers and crew abandoned the vessel and were rescued from lifefloats by two speedboats, one belonging to the owner of "Scat Cat" and the other to a colleague. One three-year-old passenger was detained in hospital overnight for observation for hypothermia. There were no other injuries. "Scat Cat" was approved to carry up to 50 passengers.

Safety issues identified included:
• the potential for damage to the vessel's propulsion equipment while operating in shallow water
• the potential for wear damage to the inside of stern tubes and propeller rope guards with small clearance tolerance around the propeller shafts
• the lack of watertight integrity between sections of the vessels pontoons
• lack of follow-up inspection of Corrective Action Repair requirements by the safe ship management provider.

Repairs and modifications were made to the vessel to eliminate specific safety issues. Recommendations were made to the Manager of Marine and Industrial Safe Ship Management Services and to the Director of Maritime Safety to address the safe ship management safety issue which has widespread application to maritime safety.