Maritime New Zealand fined the sole director of Wellington-based Megisti Sailing Charters $2,500 for being asleep at the wheel of the catamaran MV Megisti when it collided with the Port Howard Wharf, noting that fatigue was the main reason that the collision was caused.
Specifically, before colliding, the director had a broken sleeping pattern and was sleeping onboard the Megisti at Queens Wharf, often being woken by people leaving nearby pubs and restaurants and by late night and early morning phone calls from people booking charters.
One day prior the collision, the director conducted three charter voyages before berthing at Queen’s Wharf and then having several beers. He slept on board for up to five hours and forty-five minutes.
Moreover, he skippered Megisti under power, not using its sails, across the harbour, planning to arrive at the Seaview Marina next to Point Howard at about 8am. As the director fell asleep shortly after changing course at the southern end of Matiu/Somes Island, the vessel continued operating under pilot, when it finally collided with the wharf, which woke the director.at the wheel
The collision caused significant damage to Megisti but only minor damage to the wharf. The wharf carries a fuel line used to offload oil from tankers berthed in Wellington Harbour. There was no damage to the fuel line nor any oil spill or fire.
In light of the incident, Maritime NZ Central Compliance Manager, Michael-Paul Abbott, stated that the director was severely fatigued and the only person on board at the time of the collision, at 8am, Saturday, 16 November 2017.
This situation highlights that fatigue is a serious challenge for people at sea and those sailing around them, that’s why keeping a good sleep program is crucial.
Mr Abbott commented that
Fatigue is a major problem on ships … Tired crew put themselves and others in serious danger.
It is added that the seafarers was asleep for 20 minutes and the vessel was sailing on its own through one of the busiest parts of the harbour used by kayakers, boaties, cross-harbour ferries and oil tankers.
Therefore, the seafarer pleaded guilty to one charge under the Maritime Transport Act of operating a ship in a way that caused unnecessary danger or risk to people and property. He was sentenced in the Wellington District Court on Friday afternoon.
