Coastal cargo vessel "Southern Tiare", loss of rudder, off Mahia Peninsula, 4 July 2004
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
04-211
On Sunday 4 July 2004 at about 1517, while on passage from Chatham Islands to Napier in heavy weather, the coastal cargo vessel "Southern Tiare" lost its rudder below the rudder head. The master was able to manoeuvre the ship, using the bow thruster to maintain the ship’s head into the sea, until a tug arrived to take the ship under tow to Napier, where it berthed without further incident. The crew sustained no injuries during the incident.
Safety issues identified included:
- the need for shipyards to ensure a consistently high standard in welding practices, especially to critical items such as rudders and rudderstocks.
- the potential for small indications of latent problems being missed during in-water surveys undertaken in less-than-ideal conditions.
Safety recommendations were made to the Permanent Secretary of the International Association of Classification Societies Limited.
Safety issues identified included:
- the need for shipyards to ensure a consistently high standard in welding practices, especially to critical items such as rudders and rudderstocks.
- the potential for small indications of latent problems being missed during in-water surveys undertaken in less-than-ideal conditions.
Safety recommendations were made to the Permanent Secretary of the International Association of Classification Societies Limited.
Location
off Mahia Peninsula (-39.191287,178.266907) [may be approximate]