Fishing vessel "Bronny G", grounding, Steep Head, Banks Peninsula, 26 March 2004
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
04-205
On Friday 26 March 2004 at about 0215, the fishing boat "Bronny G" grounded on rocks at Steep Head on the Banks Peninsula while on passage from fishing grounds to Lyttelton Harbour. Before abandoning the boat the skipper was unable to transmit a mayday call but was able to use his cellphone to contact his partner ashore, who raised the alarm.
The crew of the "Bronny G" were uninjured, and able to make it to the beach from where they were airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter at daybreak. The "Bronny G" was unsalvageable and suffered extensive damage from the continual action of the sea. The boat was subsequently declared a constructive total loss.
The safety issues identified included:
* the lack of a working watchkeeping alarm for a single handed wheelhouseoperation
* the undertaking of navigational watchkeeping and helmsman tasks whilst impaired by the
effects of fatigue
Safety recommendations were made to: the Managing Director of Pegasus Fishing Limited, the General Manager of SGS Ships Management Systems, the General Manager, Trade and Education of the Seafood Industry Council and the Director of Maritime Safety.
The crew of the "Bronny G" were uninjured, and able to make it to the beach from where they were airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter at daybreak. The "Bronny G" was unsalvageable and suffered extensive damage from the continual action of the sea. The boat was subsequently declared a constructive total loss.
The safety issues identified included:
* the lack of a working watchkeeping alarm for a single handed wheelhouseoperation
* the undertaking of navigational watchkeeping and helmsman tasks whilst impaired by the
effects of fatigue
Safety recommendations were made to: the Managing Director of Pegasus Fishing Limited, the General Manager of SGS Ships Management Systems, the General Manager, Trade and Education of the Seafood Industry Council and the Director of Maritime Safety.
Location
Steep Head, Banks Peninsula (-43.747661,173.130369) [may be approximate]