(incorporating 98-213) Jet boat "Terminator", rollover on to shingle bar, Dart River, Glenorchy, 2 October 1998 and, jet boat "Helijet 7", collision with rock face, Kawarau River, Queenstown, 12 November 1998
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
98-215
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.
At about 0945 hours on Thursday, 12 November 1998, the jet boat "Helijet 7" was travelling down the main channel of the Kawarau River at a speed of about 65 km/h when the driver lost control of his boat in a back eddy near the true river left bank. The boat veered left and struck a rock face. The 5 passengers and driver suffered minor to serious injuries.
Safety issues identified were the adequacy of training for jet boat drivers required under current legislation, and the fitting of a roll bar or similar device to jet boats operating on braided rivers.
Recommendations were made to the director of maritime safety, the chairman of the Commercial Jet Boat Association and the general manager of Shotover Jet Limited to address the safety issues.
This report includes inquiry 98-213.
At about 0945 hours on Thursday, 12 November 1998, the jet boat "Helijet 7" was travelling down the main channel of the Kawarau River at a speed of about 65 km/h when the driver lost control of his boat in a back eddy near the true river left bank. The boat veered left and struck a rock face. The 5 passengers and driver suffered minor to serious injuries.
Safety issues identified were the adequacy of training for jet boat drivers required under current legislation, and the fitting of a roll bar or similar device to jet boats operating on braided rivers.
Recommendations were made to the director of maritime safety, the chairman of the Commercial Jet Boat Association and the general manager of Shotover Jet Limited to address the safety issues.
This report includes inquiry 98-213.
Location
Kawarau River (-45.003651,168.813515) [may be approximate]