Judgment errors led to injuries says maritime report

Staff on board a Fullers Bay of Islands boat cruise when seven people were injured made judgment errors and had no valid first aid certificates, says a Maritime Safety Authority report.

One passenger suffered a fractured spine and two broke both their legs after a catamaran carrying 125 people crashed down from a steep wave during a tour around the Bay of Islands. A fourth passenger suffered nerve damage to the hand, a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg.

Others suffered bruising, grazes and ligament damage. All were understood to be Australian tourists.

The findings come from a Maritime Safety Authority report into the accident obtained yesterday, which highlighted concerns about the skipper's judgment and some of Fullers Bay of Islands' procedures for the twice-daily Hole in the Rock trip from Paihia.

It also mentioned the "critical" need for a review by the authority of rules for passenger boat seating because the deck seats were not securely fixed to the catamaran.

The March 18 accident happened about 3pm, aboard the Tiger III near the Lighthouse at Cape Brett.

Conditions were reported as slightly bumpy with swells to 2m.

The authority said there was nothing in the vessel's manual to tell skippers unfamiliar with the area about the large rolling swells and "the odd steep back wave that will dump you".

The authority commended the response by the four crew members, but it said none of them had a valid first aid certificate.

It also recommended buying radios so that the crew members could keep in touch with the skipper.

Fullers Bay of Islands director Roger Dold said recommendations from the report had been taken up.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine