Safety regulations have now been updated to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Maritime NZ’s northern compliance manager Neil Rowarth says regulations at the time did not require vessels sailing from New Zealand on international voyages to have storm covers fitted in heavy seas, but the regulations did require storm covers to be available if required.
“Following the recommendations of the report, Maritime NZ has worked in collaboration with Yachting NZ to amend the safety regulations to require storm covers to be positioned on windows over a certain size on sailing vessels,” says Rowarth.
The four experienced crew on Essence had prepared for the forecast heavy weather.