Warning after boats collide

People navigating in Northland waters should take the time to familiarise themselves with the requirements for navigation lights for their boats. Photo / Sue Shepard

Northland's regional harbourmaster has warned boaties to keep a proper lookout and to use correct navigation lights while out on the water after people in two launches involved in a night-time collision narrowly escaped serious injuries.

Jim Lyle said a momentary lapse in concentration at sea, particularly during the busy summer season, could prove fatal.

His comments followed an almost head-on clash between two recreational boats, Akasha and Sea King, about 9.30pm on Monday at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour near the New Zealand Refinery at Marsden Pt. One was leaving the harbour and the other coming in when they collided.

He said there were six people on board the Akasha, which was badly damaged and had a hole in the hull, but luckily no one was hurt.

"It seems to be a case of them not seeing each other. Whether or not the boats had lights is still under investigation."

Mr Lyle said if someone had been on the boats' bow the result could have been fatal.

He was getting statements from those on board both boats as well as checking navigation equipment on board. One of the fundamental rules of navigation, he said, was to "see and be seen".

"While that may or may not have been a factor in this latest case, too many boaties are placing themselves and others at unnecessary risk by ignoring this and travelling the region's harbours without the proper navigation lights or keeping a proper lookout."

He urged people navigating in Northland waters to take the time to familiarise themselves with the requirements for navigation lights for their boats and to make sure they were fitted and switched on at night.

Mr Lyle said people have anchored in the path of cruise ships in the Bay of Islands before casting their fishing lines.

With 40 cruise ships scheduled to visit the Bay during the 2014/15 season, he said recreational fishermen in the area needed to take note and to stay out of the path of the ships.

He urged people to take day skipper courses to learn the 'road rules' of the sea. "Every skipper should take this course as a minimum because there's a lack of knowledge about fishing regulation and navigation," he said.

* Those interested in doing the course should contact Coastguard Boating Education.