Yacht death leads to new rules

By KATHERINE HOBY

A fatal collision between a barge and a yacht on the Hauraki Gulf has led to a review of safety procedures.

Don Morton, 76, died after his yacht Toolka-T hit a partially submerged 500m towline connecting a northbound tug and barge about 2km northeast of Takatu Pt at Cape Rodney, east of Warkworth.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission yesterday said authorities must "critically review" the need for all watchkeepers on commercial vessels in this country to be appropriately qualified.

The Maritime Safety Authority, which handles all safety at sea and on the water, moved quickly to act.

Its director, Russell Kilvington, said that by the middle of the year it would start work on making sure all bridge watchkeepers on commercial boats are qualified.

Mr Morton, his partner Jan Elliott and two other crew were homeward bound after four months cruising around Fiji and Vanuatu when the accident happened about 5am on November 16, 2001.

After the collision in the half-light of dawn, the 40m, 1500-tonne barge went over the top of the 11m yacht. It sank within minutes.

Mrs Elliott and the two other crew members were thrown overboard. They were picked up by the tug crew.

Mr Morton was asleep, and went down with the Tookla-T.

In a report in July, Mr Kilvington said poor watchkeeping and lack of skills led to the fatal collision.

The watchkeeper on Toolka-T and the crew on Wainui had inadequate skills, he said.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission report backs this up, saying the yacht's watchkeeper did not have maritime qualifications and was not wearing necessary eyeglasses.

The tug's lights indicated it was towing a vessel, but the Toolka-T's watchkeeper did not recognise them.

McCallum Brothers, who operated the Wainui, have changed their safety systems since the accident, and the report also notes that the watchkeeper of Toolka-T had obtained a boatmaster's certificate.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine