The Commission has closed its inquiry into this occurrence. It is satisfied on the facts before it that the circumstances of the accident do not allow the Commission to establish findings or make recommendations which may increase transport safety.
The Commission has closed its inquiry into this occurrence. It is satisfied on the facts before it that the circumstances of the accident do not allow the Commission to establish findings or make recommendations which may increase transport safety.
On 1 April 2024, the Fishing Vessel Pacific Challenger was trawling for scampi approximately 12 nautical miles off Napier. At around 1800, the first mate went up to the wheelhouse and relieved the skipper of the watch. The skipper stayed in the wheelhouse until about 2000 before leaving the wheelhouse to retire for the evening. The first mate then went to look for the skipper without success. The first mate roused the rest of the crew to continue to look for the skipper and commence search and rescue.
Despite an extensive search over several days the skipper has not been located.
Commission investigators inspected the vessel and conducted evidence gathering.