Latest news with #MaritimeNZ
Otago Daily Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Cargo ship may be months in berth
A bulk cargo ship — under investigation for a boiler explosion last weekend — may be stuck in Bluff for some months. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (Taic) and Maritime New Zealand is looking into an explosion on the ship Olivia, which was berthed in Bluff. The accident happened at 4.30am last Saturday. Three people were taken to Southland Hospital. A commission spokesman said the incident occurred while the Malta-registered bulk carrier was berthed at South Port. Three crew members were working on a boiler in the engine room when there was an explosion or flashback, injuring all three. One person had hospital-level burns while the other two crew members had only minor burns, the spokesman said. The 12-year-old ship was moved to berth five at the port on Wednesday afternoon. A three-person team — a former ship captain, a senior engineer and a data extraction expert — from Taic have been at the ship investigating the incident. They interviewed all members of the crew and any other people involved. They also took photographs of the affected areas. The commission would look into the incident but any report would be 18 months to two years away. A Maritime NZ spokesman said it was investigating. Many notifiable incidents at ports are investigated by Maritime NZ. Maritime NZ can consider prosecution as it is designated to oversee port safety through an agreement with WorkSafe. The commission did not have the power to keep a ship at a berth but it had put a protection order over parts of the ship as it gathered evidence. Once the commission moved out of evidence gathering — which usually takes a few months — it would write to the ship owner to say the protection order would be lifted and it was free to sail. Maritime NZ was limited in what it could say as it might prosecute. The commission does not look into laying blame but instead considers what can be learned from the incident.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Cargo ship explosion investigation starts
A TAIC spokesman said the incident occurred while the Malta-registered bulk carrier was berthed at South Port. Photo: TAIC An investigation has begun into an explosion on a ship berthed in Bluff last weekend. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is looking into an explosion on Olivia, which was berthed in Bluff. The accident happened at 4.30am last Saturday. Three people were taken to Southland Hospital. A TAIC spokesman said the incident occurred while the Malta-registered bulk carrier was berthed at South Port. Three crew members were working on a boiler in the engine room when there was an explosion or flashback, injuring all three. The spokesman said one person had hospital-level burns while the other two crew members had only minor burns. The status of all three was unclear yesterday. According to the South Port website, the 12-year-old ship was moved to berth five at the port yesterday afternoon. A three-person team - a former ship captain, another a senior engineer and the other a data extraction expert - from TAIC have been at the ship investigating the incident. They had interviewed all members of the crew and any other people involved. They had also taken photographs of the affected areas. The TAIC would look into the incident but any report would be 18 months to two years away. Most notifiable incidents at ports are investigated by Maritime NZ. A Maritime NZ spokesman said it was investigating.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- RNZ News
Union calls for tougher laws after stevedore falls from cargo ship at Port Nelson
By Tracy Neal, Open Justice reporter of Port Nelson was fined $110,000 over the incident involving the Maersk Nansha. Photo: Open Justice / Stephen Overton. A union has called for tougher laws to protect workers on foreign ships in New Zealand ports, after a stevedore plunged 12m into the sea from the deck of a cargo ship. But the government says making such a change would be "complex" and "difficult". Port Nelson has been fined $110,000 over the incident in January 2023 when a guard rail on a ship, Maersk Nansha snapped as the stevedore was helping load containers. The port company was also ordered to pay $5000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim, who suffered not only physical injuries but a form of post trauma disorder from the near-death experience. He told the Nelson District Court during sentencing earlier this month that he thought he would drown after falling into the sea at night, not knowing which way was up or down. "Falling from a great height into the water was terrifying. I thought I was going to die," the man read from his victim impact statement. Port Nelson Ltd had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge brought by Maritime NZ under the Health and Safety at Work Act, around its failure to provide a duty of care in a work environment. Judge Jo Rielly acknowledged at sentencing that problems with the guard rails on the container ship had previously been flagged, but for a number of reasons it appeared the message had failed to reach the right people. "The focus must be on Port Nelson's role in what occurred in this incident, but it's clear they were not the only company that had a role in events," she said. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union said the sentencing outcome showed the "urgent need" for stronger health and safety enforcement in New Zealand ports, but the spotlight also needed to go on the seaworthiness and safety of international vessels calling at New Zealand ports. Union general secretary Todd Valster said that while the fine acknowledged a breach of duty by the port company, the issue was a systemic one. He said the fact that known issues with the ship's guard rails were not adequately addressed was a serious indictment. "This was a horrifying ordeal for our member that could have easily been fatal." NZME has approached Maersk's media representatives in Europe and Asia for comment, but has not received a response. Valster said the need to ensure a safe working environment included "rigorous checks" on the seaworthiness and safety compliance of all visiting vessels. Associate Transport Minister James Meager, who has delegated responsibilities for the maritime sector and oversight of Maritime NZ, told NZME that the Government had no current plans to expand the liability of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) legislation to encompass foreign-flagged vessels. He said maritime safety was governed by international conventions and without international agreement, applying local law to operators operating out of other jurisdictions would be difficult. "Making such a law change would be complex," Meager said. However, he said Maritime NZ had several tools to hold foreign-flagged vessel operators to account, under port state control. "There are some instances where a foreign-flagged vessel will be subject to HSWA, such as, where a New Zealand company is operating them under charter, where it is operating between New Zealand and a workplace involved with mineral extraction in the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone]." The union said it would continue to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of all rail and port workers. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Union calls for tougher laws after stevedore falls from cargo ship at Port Nelson
The port company was also ordered to pay $5000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim, who suffered not only physical injuries but a form of post trauma disorder from the near-death experience. He told the Nelson District Court during sentencing earlier this month that he thought he would drown after falling into the sea at night, not knowing which way was up or down. 'Falling from a great height into the water was terrifying. I thought I was going to die,' the man read from his victim impact statement. Port Nelson Ltd had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge brought by Maritime NZ under the Health and Safety at Work Act, around its failure to provide a duty of care in a work environment. Judge Jo Rielly acknowledged at sentencing that problems with the guard rails on the container ship had previously been flagged, but for a number of reasons it appeared the message had failed to reach the right people. 'The focus must be on Port Nelson's role in what occurred in this incident, but it's clear they were not the only company that had a role in events,' she said. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union said the sentencing outcome showed the 'urgent need' for stronger health and safety enforcement in New Zealand ports, but the spotlight also needed to go on the seaworthiness and safety of international vessels calling at New Zealand ports. Union general secretary Todd Valster said that while the fine acknowledged a breach of duty by the port company, the issue was a systemic one. He said the fact that known issues with the ship's guard rails were not adequately addressed was a serious indictment. 'This was a horrifying ordeal for our member that could have easily been fatal.' NZME has approached Maersk's media representatives in Europe and Asia for comment, but has not received a response. Valster said the need to ensure a safe working environment included 'rigorous checks' on the seaworthiness and safety compliance of all visiting vessels. Associate Transport Minister James Meager, who has delegated responsibilities for the maritime sector and oversight of Maritime NZ, told NZME that the Government had no current plans to expand the liability of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) legislation to encompass foreign-flagged vessels. He said maritime safety was governed by international conventions and without international agreement, applying local law to operators operating out of other jurisdictions would be difficult. 'Making such a law change would be complex,' Meager said. However, he said Maritime NZ had several tools to hold foreign-flagged vessel operators to account, under port state control. 'There are some instances where a foreign-flagged vessel will be subject to HSWA, such as, where a New Zealand company is operating them under charter, where it is operating between New Zealand and a workplace involved with mineral extraction in the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone].' The union said it would continue to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of all rail and port workers.
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Rotorua's Nicky Harris takes on Coastguard swim challenge after partner's drowning
Along the way, swimmers can unlock rewards as they hit fundraising milestones. In the inaugural event in July last year, 1266 swimmers logged more than 8000 swims, racking up over 14,000km and raising $350,000 for Coastguard. 'This is for Willy, and it's for our kids,' Harris said. 'They love fishing and boats just like their dad, and we want Coastguard to still be here for them and future generations.' Genefaas, 39, fell overboard near Whakaari/White Island in the early hours of July 25, sparking a major search effort led by Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre. The search involved Coastguard crews from Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki, police, Northern Rescue Helicopter, Search & Rescue Services Limited Helicopter and other boaties on the water. His body was recovered and returned to shore by Coastguard Whakatāne that afternoon. 'Willy just had so much respect for the water, and for Coastguard,' Harris said. Her team's participation in The Big Swim was a way to honour his legacy and show their appreciation of Coastguard. 'It certainly helped us as a family having him back with us, I think we would all be in a much worse state if not. 'Unfortunately, for the volunteers, it's not always just rescuing boats. Sometimes, tragically, it's about bringing loved ones home.' Harris' team has already surpassed their fundraising goal, raising more than $3700 by the end of April – well over the initial $2000 target. She is currently first on the national leaderboard for individuals, and second for the team – Suna's Team.
