MO-2026-201 Black Cat grounding, Akaroa Harbour, 31 January 2026

The Commission is investigating an accident involving a commercial passenger vessel grounding in Akaroa Harbour on 31 January 2026. The circumstances reported to date were that the 17-metre ferry, Black Cat, operated by Black Cat Cruises, had a total of 38 passengers and 3 crew on board for a wildlife cruise. The people were evacuated to other nearby vessels with no injuries reported. The vessel then started to list and so was beached.