MO-2004-217 Fishing vessel "San Rochelle", fire and foundering, about 96 nm north north west of Cape Reinga, 27 October 2004

In the early hours of Wednesday 27 October 2004, the San Rochelle with a Master and 2 crew on board was in the fishing grounds to the north of New Zealand. At about 0345 with the crew part way through setting the first longline of the voyage, the Master noticed smoke coming from the aft engine room ventilators. He discharged a portable CO2 fire extinguisher into the engine room, without the fire noticeably diminishing, before he made a distress call on his single side band radio. The distress call was acknowledged by Maritime Radio and a rescue operation commenced.

Shortly afterwards, the fumes became so intense that the Master and crew abandoned the San Rochelle in the liferaft, using the dinghy to tow them a safe distance from the burning boat.

The crew was rescued by helicopter at about 1000 that morning. The San Rochelle continued to burn and sank before a salvage vessel could reach it.

Safety issues identified during the investigation were:
- the lack of fire detection and alarm systems
- the lack of a fixed fire extinguishing system
- the absence of breathing apparatus

These safety issues resulted in the loss of the boat, but did not result in injury to the crew. The Commission recognises the importance of fire detection and fire extinguishing capabilities and the effect they can have on individual occurrences. However, given the low incidence rate of this type of accident and the high cost to industry of fitting additional equipment, the Commission has not made any recommendations for the Maritime Rules to be amended, but will remain vigilant to similar occurrences in the future that may require such recommendations to be made. A recommendation has been made to the Seafood Industry Council for it to publish a summary of the report in the Seafood New Zealand magazine