Police lose patience with serial-offending skipper

Police have given up trying to educate a skipper who has been helped four times in 12 months by the Wellington police launch - and are now resorting to legal action.

The police launch Lady Elizabeth III rescued three people from a launch on Wednesday which had been anchored in a dangerous place by an apparently drunk skipper.

Wellington maritime police duty senior launchmaster John Bryant said police were looking at charging the man under the Maritime Transport Act or harbour by-laws because he continued to get into trouble.

Following three previous incidents, police had helped the middle-aged man access educational courses.

"Unfortunately he doesn't seem to have learned from them, so as a result we'll be looking at any possible charges."

Mr Bryant said several people called in after seeing the boat anchored off Petone foreshore in a position where the wind was blowing it into danger.

The boat, with two men and a woman on board, had anchored about 150m to 200m offshore after a southerly storm hit.

The police launch rescued the group shortly after midday. The skipper appeared to be drunk.

"From my observations and from speaking to him I had serious concerns about his sobriety and felt he was putting himself and his passengers at risk."

Mr Bryant said he was frustrated with the man's actions. He said recreational boat skippers were not required to obtain a licence.

He declined to speculate on how likely it was that there would be further call-outs to the vessel.

"I'm hoping he may have learnt from yesterday but I'm not holding my breath."

The Maritime Safety Authority was also investigating.

Police and Coastguard were called to help the launch back to Wellington Harbour after its engine failed and it started leaking near Island Bay in October.

Police confirmed two other occasions when they had to tow the launch, in September and January.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine