Skipper banned for three months

Wayne Williams wept as he left the Auckland District Court. Picture / Dean Purcell

A "role model" ferry captain has been banned from skippering a vessel for three months and ordered to pay $16,000 for his part in an Auckland Harbour boat collision that claimed the life of a 74-year-old woman.

Wayne Williams privately met the family of his victim after being sentenced at the Auckland District Court yesterday. He wept as he left the court building.

The court was told the 32-year-old was a role model after working his way up from kitchenhand to master in 15 years with Fullers Ferries.

All that unravelled in "less than two minutes in an otherwise unblemished career", defence counsel Michael McCarthy told the court at an earlier hearing.

Williams was sailing the 10am Waiheke-bound Quickcat on January 4 when it and a chartered fishing boat collided.

Aboard the fishing boat were Gisborne woman Moira (known as Margaret) Newman and six members of her family, who all suffered some injuries.

Mrs Newman had head and internal injuries and died in hospital three weeks later.

Williams pleaded guilty to two charges under the Maritime Transport Act relating to careless operation of a ship.

He failed to use an extra lookout despite visibility from the bridge being restricted by a cargo crane.

"You were the master of a large vessel, with a lot of passengers on board, travelling at high speed through a narrow channel known to be hazardous, and with a significant number of vessels around," said Judge Anthony Fitzgerald at yesterday's sentencing.

But he said that Williams, who is married with two children, was "remorseful and obviously of good character".

"No penalty that I impose can bring back Mrs Newman or restore the loss to her family," the judge said.

"I've no doubt you are truly horrified that Mrs Newman's death was caused by your actions."

Williams was disqualified from operating a vessel for three months and ordered to pay a $5000 fine and $11,000 reparation.

The 456-tonne ferry was carrying eight crew and 377 passengers when the accident happened. None was injured.

The 8m charter boat Doctor Hook was also carrying Mrs Newman's husband Rex, daughter Christine, son-in-law John Rutherfurd and their three children.

They were on a fishing trip to celebrate Mr Newman's 75th birthday.

After Williams left court yesterday, Mrs Rutherfurd said it was time for the family to move on.

"I've no bad feelings [towards Williams] and I wish him well," she said.

Since the accident a separate fast lane has been introduced into the busy Motuihe Channel to avoid the risk of similar collisions.

Maritime New Zealand, which brought the case, said the sentence send a clear message to all skippers.

The organisation is also prosecuting the skipper of Doctor Hook, Bruce Newbury, on similar charges.

He has pleaded not guilty.