This was a serious accident, where 41 people were at risk of significant harm, drawing heightened public interest. The interim report provides information for clarity about what happened and to help the sector avoid similar maritime incidents or accidents in the future.
The Black Cat was a 17-metre (m) catamaran owned by Black Cat Cruises and operated out of Akaroa, New Zealand.
On the morning of 31 January 2026, the Black Cat was conducting a scenic cruise in calm weather with 38 passengers and 3 crew on board.
While approaching Archway Rock, the vessel struck a submerged object. The vessel’s position at the time of impact aligned with a charted submerged rock of an unknown depth.
The starboard hull was ruptured and began flooding with seawater. In response, the crew attempted to activate an additional bilge pumping system. The crew were not confident in how to operate the system correctly, so the pump was not engaged.
The master navigated Black Cat into Akaroa Harbour to facilitate a safe evacuation. While in the harbour, the vessel’s steering and starboard engine had stopped operating and the emergency steering was not responding. By this point the Black Cat had developed a significant starboard list.
The passengers were safely evacuated onto responding vessels before the Coastguard unsuccessfully attempted to dewater the vessel.
Trying to save the vessel, the master attempted to manoeuvre Black Cat towards the beach when it ran aground.
All passengers and crew were safely transferred back to Akaroa without injury.