Crew aboard a tourist boat that sank in the Akaroa Harbour earlier this year could not work the pump meant to clear the flooding vessel, forcing dozens of passengers to be ferried off before it grounded, an interim report has found.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its final interim report into the January 31 grounding of the Black Cat, which ended with the total loss of the 17m catamaran near the mouth of Akaroa Harbour.
The Black Cat, owned by Black Cat Cruises, was on a two-hour scenic cruise with 38 passengers and three crew when it struck a submerged object near Archway Rock about 12.12pm. The report found the vessel's position at the time of impact aligned with a submerged rock already marked on the navigational chart.
The report said the rock symbol on the chart represents "an underwater rock over which the depth is unknown, but which is considered dangerous to surface navigation." The impact ruptured the starboard hull, which began flooding with seawater.
The incident involved a Black Cat cruise vessel, with 39 passengers and three crew members on board. (Source: 1News)
According to the report, crew members tried to activate an engine-driven bilge pump to clear the water but were not confident in how to operate it, so the pump was never engaged.
The master intended to either anchor or beach the vessel at Nikau Palm Valley, but the steering and starboard engine stopped working en route. The boat developed a heavy list to starboard as smoke or steam filled the cabin.
Several nearby vessels responded to an urgency signal at around 12.32pm, and passengers were ferried in groups from the port stern onto larger boats, with the evacuation completed by 12.40pm.
A Coastguard vessel, the Ihenga Rescue, had been exercising just outside the harbour when its crew heard the radio call. They brought a portable pump aboard but had to give up as water surged over the bulwark and into the aft deck.
Running on port-side propulsion alone, the master pressed on toward the beach at Nikau Palm Valley, where the vessel grounded again about 12.47pm.
The master shut down the port engine and left the boat on a jet ski. Everyone was transferred back to Akaroa without injury.
The boat was carrying 2240 litres of marine diesel fuel on board, and around 120 litres of other oils in sealed containers and engines. (Source: 1News)
Environment Canterbury declared a Tier 2 regional oil-spill response at 1.45pm. A salvage operation by Black Cat Cruises failed to refloat the catamaran, which broke up in heavy weather, resulting in the total loss of the vessel. Environment Canterbury told the commission the environmental impact was minimal.
The Black Cat had four independent bilge-pumping systems, the report noted. Built in 1994 for Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, it had operated out of Akaroa since 2004.
The commission opened its inquiry on the day of the grounding and its investigation continues, with findings and any safety recommendations to come in a final report.
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