MO-2000-203 Passenger charter launch "Kiwi Cruiser", grounding and sinking, Bay of Islands, 5 April 2000

On Wednesday 5 April 2000, at about 1945, the passenger charter launch "Kiwi Cruiser" was returning to Paihia from a fishing charter with 9 passengers and 3 crew on board, when it struck rocks off Tapeka Point. The vessel was holed at the bow and began taking water. As the "Kiwi Cruiser" began to list heavily and settle on the rocks the skipper transmitted a mayday call. The crew and passengers donned lifejackets and launched the rigid life raft before abandoning the vessel. They were subsequently picked up by a vessel that was responding to the mayday call and taken to Paihia. The skipper and trainee deckhand suffered minor injuries in the accident, but none of the remaining people on board was injured. The "Kiwi Cruiser" subsequently sank.

Safety issues identified included:

• the low level of crew experience aboard the "Kiwi Cruiser"
• the level of supervision of unqualified and inexperienced deckhands
• the inefficient use made of the available navigation aids to monitor the position of the vessel
• the number of lifejackets required to be carried on board restricted limit ships
• the "Kiwi Cruiser" operating with one engine removed without the approval of an authorised surveyor.

Safety recommendations were made to the operator, the safe ship management provider and the director of Maritime Safety to address the safety issues.