Executive summary
On Monday 16 August 2004, the restricted limit fishing vessel "Iron Maiden" foundered to the south of Pandora Bank, off the Northland west coast, with the loss of the 2 crew. The boat was on a delivery voyage from Mangonui on the east coast to Raglan about halfway down the west coast of North Island.
At 1908, the skipper of the Iron Maiden sent a distress signal, which was simultaneously received by Far North Radio and Taupo Maritime Radio. The skipper said that the boat was taking on water and that the crew were going to abandon ship in the near future. In his last transmission shortly after 1911, the skipper said they were to the west of Pandora Bank, but did not give a precise position. An extensive search and rescue operation was mounted and a helicopter located the boat's liferaft at about 2242. The helicopter pilot and observer could not confirm whether anyone was in the liferaft, and the weather conditions prevented winching operations.
One of the searching vessels recovered the body of the skipper at 0422 the following morning, but the body of the other crewman was not found.
The safety issues identified included:
- crew certification on restricted limit fishing boats
- the use of drugs while in command of a boat
- arrangements for the rapid freeing of water from the decks of a boat.
Safety recommendations were made to the Secretary for Transport, the Director of Maritime Safety and the General Manager Trade and Education of the Seafood Industry Council to address these issues.
Related Recommendations
In order to reduce confusion and the possibility of misinterpretation, develop a policy to rationalise and simplify the current maritime rules concerning the crewing and watchkeeping requirements for non-SOLAS vessels, and the limits in which they operate.
while policy and any legislative changes are being developed, consult with industry to develop a communication and education strategy to ensure that masters, owners, operators, surveyors and inspectors are aware of the validity of the present qualifications and the minimum crewing requirements for all vessels and their relevant operating areas.
Include an article in the Seafood New Zealand magazine featuring the report into this tragic accident highlighting the part played by minimal stability and the consumption of cannabis.
continue to consult with industry over the use of alcohol and drugs on ships with the objective of developing a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy to be included in all safe ship management manuals.
draft legislation for consideration by the Minister of Transport that will provide the necessary legislative framework to support the industry and individual operators in their implementation of a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy.
by way of a marine notice remind safe ship management company surveyors, maritime safety inspectors, owners, operators and ships' staff of the need to be vigilant of the freeing arrangements on vessels and the adverse effect trapped water on deck can pose to a vessel's stability.