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:
• incorrect fitting of the envelope to the outer covers and bow of rigid inflatable vessels
• the lack of adequate washers securing the tongue and envelope
• the fitting of pressure relief valves to the bladders
• the determination of a safe speed at which to operate rigid inflatable vessels, in rough sea conditions.
Safety recommendations were made to the Managing Director of Naiad Inflatables (NZ) Ltd and the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal NZ Coastguard Federation to address the safety issues.
