Executive summary
On Friday 31 August 2001 at about 1440, the commercial jet boat "Shotover 21" was proceeding down Shotover River at about 60 km/h with the driver and 11 passengers on board, when the engine stopped suddenly. With no propulsion the driver lost directional control of the boat and it continued in a straight line for some 60 m before colliding with a rock face at about 30 km/h. Five of the passengers suffered serious injuries, the other passengers suffered minor injuries and the driver was unhurt. The boat was extensively damaged.
The cause of the engine stoppage was not conclusively established.
A safety issue identified was the inherent loss of directional control for single-engine jet boats in the event of a propulsion failure.
A safety recommendation was made to the Director of Maritime Safety to address the safety issue.
Related Recommendations
Liaise with the National Transportation Safety Board of USA and manufacturers of jet boat propulsion systems to explore the possibility of developing an alternative means of providing directional control for single-engine jet boats in the event of an engine failure.