Fishing boat pilot may have been asleep

Three fishermen aboard a Greymouth fishing boat jumped ship as it ran aground on the Blaketown beach late last night.

Reports suggested that the person at the wheel fell asleep, which would have caused the boat to veer off course, police said.

Maritime New Zealand has been called in to investigate the grounding, and an investigator was on site to make preliminary inquiries.

The Venture had been fishing for Westfleet and was returning from a fishing trip in the Hokitika Trench with a load of ling.

Westfleet owner Craig Boote said this morning the crew, who were all wearing lifejackets, were close enough to shore to jump off safely.

"They got a bit wet, but they are all alive and that is what is most important."

The $450,000 wooden fishing vessel would not be salvaged once expensive fishing gear was recovered, and it would not take long for it to disintegrate.

The boat had very little fish on board due to a breakdown while at sea and was returning to port for repairs.

The crew members contacted the Greymouth police at 11.20pm to advise of the grounding, by which time they were already safe on shore.

About 1000 litres of marine diesel was spilled in the grounding. The fuel should break up and disperse naturally, West Coast Regional Council compliance team leader Mike Meehan said.

- NZPA