Executive summary
On Wednesday 19 May 2004 at about 0117, the fishing vessel "Joanne" collided with the tanker "Hellas Constellation" in the approach channel to the Port of Tauranga. The "Joanne", with 2 people on board, was returning from fishing grounds in Bay of Plenty. The "Hellas Constellation", with a full cargo of automotive gas oil, was entering the Port of Tauranga under pilotage. There were no injuries.
The "Joanne" suffered minor damage to the bow only. The "Hellas Constellation’s" hull plating and framing were set in, but not ruptured, and there was no spillage of its cargo of oil.
The "Hellas Constellation" subsequently berthed safely at the Mount Maunganui tanker terminal. The "Joanne berthed" at the Tauranga fishing wharves after grounding twice while on passage through the harbour.
Safety issues identified included:
• the lack of a watchkeeping monitor alarm on the fishing vessel for a single-handed wheelhouse operation
• the undertaking of navigational watchkeeping tasks whilst impaired by the effects of fatigue.
Safety recommendations were made to the Chief Executive of the Rawlinson Business Trust and the General Manager, Trade and Information, of the Seafood Industry Council.
[The report also found that safety recommendations 042/04 and 043/04 to the Manager of SGS M&I Ships Management Systems and 052/04 to the Director of Maritime Safety which arose from investigation 04-205 (fishing vessel "Bronny G", grounding, Steep Head, Banks Peninsula, 26 March 2004), addressed the above safety issues and were equally applicable to this collision.]
Related Recommendations
Include an article in the Seafood New Zealand magazine featuring this report, the intent of Maritime Rule Part 31C [Crewing and Watchkeeping - Fishing Vessels] together with its advisory circular and the work of the Maritime Safety Authority-convened FISHgroup and FishSAFE initiatives.
Put in place procedures to ensure that the watchkeeping alarms fitted to all vessels operated by his company are used whenever a navigational watch is undertaken.
In conjunction with the Safe Ship Management Company, implement the requirements of Maritime Rule Part 31C [Crewing and Watchkeeping - Fishing Vessels] for all vessels operated by his company and update the safe ship management manual as necessary.
In conjunction with the Safe Ship Management Company, include a section in the Safe Ship Management manual on the signs, symptoms and effects of fatigue and practical methods of managing fatigue.