New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) issued an investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel ‘Francie’ in inclement weather off Kaipara Harbour in November 2016, which killed eight people. TAIC highlighted that the eight passengers would have better chances of survival, had they wearing life-jackets in accordance with maritime safety rules.
The incident
On 26 November 2016, the commercial passenger fishing charter vessel ‘Francie’ was operating a charter out of Kaipara Harbour with the skipper and 10 passengers onboard.
The skipper decided to cross the Kaipara Harbour bar and fish in an area of deeper water off the coast. By the time the Francie attempted to re-enter Kaipara Harbour, a forecast developing swell and the influence of an ebbing tide had caused the waves over the Kaipara Harbour bar to increase in height, steepen and break from several directions.
The Francie was struck from behind by a large breaking wave, then capsized and sank. Eight of the 11 people onboard died. Only three people were wearing lifejackets when the Francie capsized.
Findings
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission found that the conditions on the Kaipara Harbour bar when the Francie attempted to return were predictably unsuitable for the Francie to cross, and indications were that the skipper had a propensity for crossing the Kaipara Harbour bar in adverse conditions.
- The forecast weather conditions, in combination with the state of the tide, were not suitable for the Francie to head out over the Kaipara Harbour bar and make a safe return.
- The Francie capsized when it was struck by a large breaking wave from behind while the skipper was distracted by making a radio call.
- Indications are that the skipper had a propensity to accept a high level of risk when deciding whether to cross the Kaipara Harbour bar.
- The skipper had a propensity for crossing the Kaipara Harbour bar in high-risk conditions, which was known to but not reported by others in the industry and community.
- A system is needed for people to make reports on safety-related concerns to Maritime New Zealand to provide the regulator with more opportunity to intervene before accidents happen.
It is very likely that only three of the 11 people onboard the Francie were wearing lifejackets of some description when the Francie capsized while crossing the Kaipara Harbour bar. No one was wearing a lifejacket provided onboard in accordance with the Maritime Rules. It is virtually certain that everyone on board would have had a better chance of survival if they had been wearing a lifejacket, and virtually certain that more people would have survived had the lifejackets been fitted with crotch straps.
- People have a low appreciation of the importance of wearing a lifejacket that is well fitted and of a type appropriate to the location and conditions where it will be used.
- The lifejackets on board the Francie that were approved for use under the Maritime Rules were not of a type appropriate for the nature of the Francie operation, which included crossing the Kaipara Harbour bar and operating off an exposed coastline.
Safety issues
- Some people are using the accident and incident reporting process to raise safety concerns because there is currently no dedicated, formal process within Maritime New Zealand where members of the public and the maritime community can submit reports on safety and security concerns, including complaints and allegations of suspected breaches of maritime legislation
- Maritime rules that specify the types of lifejacket to be carried on commercial vessels are based only on how far the vessels are permitted to travel from the coast. The rules do not consider environmental factors such as vessels operating out of bar harbours and on exposed coastlines, where higher-specification lifejackets would be more appropriate
- There are indications that people may not have a sufficient understanding of the design and capability of the various types of lifejacket available, or of the importance of wearing a lifejacket of the correct size and type for any situation where there is a risk of people ending up in the water.
The Commission made four recommendations to Maritime New Zealand to address these issues and noted the actions already being taken to address one of the safety issues.
Lessons learned
- Extreme caution must be exercised when crossing bars because sea conditions can change for the worse in a very short time. Waves can come from more than one direction and are usually larger and steeper than surrounding waters and often breaking
- Wearing a lifejacket will significantly improve the chances of survival if a person unexpectedly finds themselves in the water
- When a person wearing a lifejacket unexpectedly finds themselves in the water, their chances of surviving are significantly improved if the lifejacket is of the appropriate type for the conditions and size of the person, and is fitted with a crotch strap to prevent their losing it when it rides up and over their head
- The Maritime New Zealand website has useful information about selecting a proper lifejacket that best suits a person’s maritime activity, and how and when it should be worn
- If a person has concerns about the safety of any maritime activity, they should not hesitate to report them to the appropriate maritime regulator. This could help prevent accidents and save lives in.
Explore more herebelow:
