MO-2000-201 Stern trawler "Seafresh 1", engine-room fire, north of Chatham Islands, 9 March 2000 and foundering Hanson Bay, Chatham Islands, 17 March 2000

On Thursday 9 March 2000 at about 1750 the stern trawler "Seafresh 1", with 18 crew on board, was steaming about 20 nautical miles north of the Chatham Islands when fire broke out in the switchboard. The engine-room was sealed off and the fire smothered itself. The crew were able to re-enter the engine-room about 6 hours later. There was no electrical or engine power available. While waiting for a tow, the crew discovered water on the factory deck. The crew were eventually able to locate and seal off the ingress and bail out the deck. The chief engineer received moderate injuries while trying to locate the source of the fire. "Seafresh 1" was taken under tow on Friday 10 March 2000 at about 0730 and towed to Hanson Bay where it was anchored at 2000 that night.

"Seafresh 1" was still without electrical power and had only minimal on-board services. A skeleton crew remained on board until Monday 13 March 2000 when the weather forecast indicated easterly winds of 50 knots with heavy swells. The master decided to leave the vessel unmanned during the period of bad weather. "Seafresh 1" was observed to ride the storm well at anchor. On Friday 17 March 2000 at about 0830 the harbourmaster saw that "Seafresh 1" had taken a substantial starboard list and alerted the master. Two boats were launched and proceeded out to "Seafresh 1" but the crew were unable to get back on board before the vessel foundered in about 18 m of water.

Safety issues identified included:

• lack of an effective engine-room fire detection system
• lack of a fixed fire smothering system
• method of approach to fire investigation and fire fighting
• inability to replenish compressed air bottles
• standard of securing the vessel before it was left unmanned.