Unsuccessful search for Ruamano puzzles insurers

The unsuccessful search for the sunken launch Ruamano was puzzling, the surveyor working for the vessel's insurers said yesterday.

The Ruamano's upturned hull was spotted by a passing ship on Friday, 150 miles west of Dargaville in Northland.

The crew of a Korean log ship took photos of the half-submerged boat, which had damage to the cabin and an inflated liferaft tied alongside, then reported it to the Maritime Safety Authority. The ship then continued its journey to Lyttelton.

The 75-year-old Ruamano was abandoned on New Year's Day during a round-New Zealand Heart Foundation promotion. Its five crew left the $150,000, 13m launch in heavy seas, steaming slowly west.

Surveyor Mike Austin said an unsuccessful search was undertaken on Sunday by a fishing trawler.

"I find it puzzling because the position was given from the log ship and seemed to be very definite and with the Ruamano actually flooded or submerged you wouldn't expect it would have moved far from there.

"It's very disappointing," he said.

After abandoning the Ruamano, the crew were picked up by a passing freighter. The family of owner Sefton Powrie organised an air search for the vessel covering 260 sq km, but it was unsuccessful.

Mr Austin said it was now "back to square one" for the vessel. "It may still be out there, or it may not."

While there were no plans to search again, "anyone else" was welcome to undertake a private search, Mr Austin said. If successful, the searchers would be paid a proportion of the vessel's value.

The Ruamano would probably not be in good condition if it was found and would return to port in a worse state.

- NZPA

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