A New Zealand court has fined the Ports of Auckland and one of its pilot a total of NZD $432,400 for excessive speeding during thousands of pilot boat voyages in Waitemata Harbour. Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) and the master of the pilot boat, Grant More, both admitted exposing people to risk of death or serious injury. Maritime NZ Director, Keith Manch, said POAL has … [Read more...]
New Zealand Fines Stevedoring Company $150,000 for Dropping Excavator from Ship’s Crane
A New Zealand court has sentenced a Tauranga-based stevedoring company to a more $150,000 fine after a 15 tonne excavator was dropped from a ship’s crane nearly killing five workers. The incident happened at Northport deep-water in Whangarei, New Zealand when the log carrier, Aster K, was being loaded on 16 July 2017. The stevedoring company, C3, has now pleaded guilty to … [Read more...]
New Zealand Fines Captain, Chief Officer for Providing False Info After Crewman Passed Out in Hold
The Captain and Chief Officer of an Isle of Man-flagged bulk carrier have been fined in New Zealand for giving false information to authorities after a crew member passed out in the ship’s hold. Captain Walter Damian and Chief Officer Ian Dingaling pleaded guilty in court last week to providing false information to Maritime New Zealand officials and fined $13,500 and $ … [Read more...]
New Zealand Charges Captain Over Unsafe Working Practices
Maritime authorities in New Zealand have brought charges against the captain of a Panama-flagged bulk carrier for allowing his crew to work at height without the use of proper safety equipment. Maritime NZ charged Jianxi Chen, Captain of the Spinnaker SW, with permitting dangerous activity involving ships or maritime products under section 65(2) of the Maritime Transport Act … [Read more...]
Man Overboard Uses Jeans to Survive Hours Lost at Sea
WELLINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - Knocked overboard in rough seas off New Zealand, a German yachtsman credited his jeans with saving his life after fashioning them into a make-shift life jacket that kept him afloat for over three hours before his rescue by coastguards. Arne Murke, 30, was sailing with his brother in Tolaga Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand's north island, … [Read more...]