Sailor's father dismayed faulty equipment used

Byron Solomon, who drowned when an inflatable navy boat flipped and trapped him. Photo / Supplied

The father of a young sailor who was killed when an inflatable navy boat flipped and trapped him underwater is dismayed that steps were not taken to ensure equipment was safe, despite prior warning signs.

Able Seaman Byron Solomon, 22, drowned when the boat capsized as it was being launched from the navy ship HMNZS Canterbury during a training exercise northeast of Cape Reinga on October 5, 2007.

A navy inquiry found a hook used to attach a rope from the inflatable to the ship was faulty and similar hooks were replaced throughout the navy.

A coroner's inquest into the death is underway in Auckland District Court today, which heard that Canterbury crew had experienced similar problems with the boat-release mechanism.

Commander Tony Millar, AB Solomon's commanding officer when he was killed, told Coroner Brandt Shortland the same sort of hook had malfunctioned the previous day on the ship's starboard side, which was why they were operating from the port side that day.

Cdr Millar said he was not sure whether the previous day's problem was due to operator or design error.

But speaking outside court, AB Solomon's father, Bill, said the equipment was clearly a hazard.

"The overall link attaching the craft to the hook wasn't built to design: they realised that it hadn't been built to design, they realised that it was difficult to use and I think probably - although it hasn't been stated categorically - they recognised a hazard.

"I don't think enough was done regarding the training around that hazard, or for that matter, finding a better piece of equipment."

Mr Solomon was disappointed the inquest would not focus on this issue, as the purpose of a coroner's inquest was to examine the circumstances leading to death and not to apportion blame.

"I think there's a large chunk of evidence that has been shut out of the coroner's inquest," he said.

Mr Solomon also struggled to understand why it had taken more than three years for an inquest to be held.

The inquest, which is being attended by many members of AB Solomon's family, is expected to be completed tomorrow.

- NZPA