A Whangarei charter boat skipper and the company he runs have appeared in court on charges related to the death of a diver struck by a propeller.
Mark Andrew Barnes, 59, skipper of the charter boat Pacific Hideaway, and The Dive Spot, appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday charged with breaching the Health And Safety in Employment Act 1992.
The charges relate to the death of Bruce Porter, 56, who was diving on the Pacific Hideaway boat when he was struck by the propeller at the Poor Knights as he resurfaced on February 7. He died from his injuries. Mr Porter was with the Western Underwater Dive Club from Auckland, which had chartered the 16m catamaran The boat is owned and skippered by Mark and Denise Barnes.
Barnes, as skipper, was charged with failing to adequately warn of the dangers of the boat's propeller and failed to ensure the safety of people in the water from the propeller. The company was charged with breaching Section 15 of the Act and the case will be recalled on November 24.
