Tourist boat docked after passengers injured

Photo / Supplied

A high-speed Northland tourist boat has been ordered to stay docked after several passengers were injured, including one woman who had to spend 12 weeks in a body brace after fracturing her back in rough seas.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has launched an inquiry into the Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands vessel Excitor III - a 300-horsepower boat that takes tourists on an high-speed trip through the bay.

An MNZ spokeswoman said the Excitor III had been banned last Friday from doing any commercial work while its investigation was under way.

The director of MNZ had to be satisfied the boat was fit for the purpose it was being used for before it would be allowed back on the water with passengers.

MNZ would not comment on the specifics of the investigation, but the Northern Advocate understands it comes after passengers were injured on Excitor III in January and again last month.

Auckland woman Petula Patey is still in a body brace 12 weeks after fracturing her back while on an Excitor III trip to the Hole in the Rock.

The woman had to be rescued from the trip by another boat after she and an English friend got hurt while sitting at the rear of the boat on January 12.

She faces months of rehabilitation and says the physical pain from her fractured lumbar vertebrae is matched by the emotional harm.

"I've got home help and my husband has had to take time off work.

But I can't even pick up my grandson," Mrs Patey said.

"It's really affected my confidence and I can't drive and have to take taxis everywhere.

"Everybody can see the physical effects, but the emotional side of things people don't really think about," she said.

An Australian woman suffered a back injury while on Excitor III on March 22 and is expected to be off work until early May.

The manager of Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands, Charles Parker, said MNZ requested it withdraw Excitor III from service after the company correctly notified the body of two incidents involving passengers on the vessel.

Mr Parker said the Excitor III was a new Naiad rigid inflatable and was commissioned into service on October 10.

"Fullers always places passenger safety as a top priority," he said.

"Fullers will not be in a position to make further comment until more work has been completed. Fullers has and will continue to co-operate with Maritime New Zealand."

On its website, Fullers BOI says the Excitor III trip is not available at the moment.

However, the publicity for the trip urges caution:

"Feel the adrenalin as the power of four 300hp V8 engines race you through the islands of the Bay and along the Cape Brett Peninsula. Adrenalin junkies will love the 'extreme seats' at the front ... CAUTION: these are not for the faint hearted. The Excitor thrives in large waves, so the bigger the swell, the bigger the buzz."