Case studies and the lessons to be learnt

You can read stories about real accidents and the safety lessons to be learnt from them in Maritime New Zealand’s free quarterly publication, Lookout!  The stories are based on investigation reports – the aim is to prevent similar events happening again.

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Here's a story from the September 2008 Lookout! issue:

Good seamanship saves grandchildren

A grandfather’s good seamanship may have saved the lives of his three grandchildren.

The three children, the skipper and two other adults had spent the day enjoying a fishing trip in a recreational powerboat that the skipper had owned for about a month.

The party had anchored to refuel about 200 m from shore when the fibreglass-coated plywood hull suddenly started filling with water. The crew donned their lifejackets and the skipper started bailing while one of the adults raised the alarm using the powerboat’s water-resistant VHF radio.

A nearby vessel came alongside and took the children off just before the boat capsized, spilling the three adults into the water. The skipper was briefly lodged under the vessel, but was able to swim clear.

Within minutes the Coastguard and Maritime Police arrived in response to the VHF call, and took the crew to a nearby wharf where an ambulance was waiting.

Lookout! points

1. The skipper had bought more lifejackets that day to ensure there were enough for everyone on board.
2. The vessel was properly equipped with a hand-held, water-resistant VHF radio. These can cost as little as $200. A cellphone in a water-tight plastic bag, kept in a clothing pocket on the body is another good communications option. Use the cellphone through the plastic to ensure it stays dry.
3. The powerboat was found to have a 40 cm-long area of soft wood running along the keel that had started to rot out, allowing water into the hull. This was probably caused by fresh water lying in the hull. It can occur in older wooden boats, which should be thoroughly checked for softness (preferably by a boat builder) before purchase.

This story featured in Lookout! issue ten, September 2008.  

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