Thursday, 11 February 2021, 10:14 am
Capsize may be a greater safety risk than skippers and
owners of smaller passenger boats think – even with vessel
designs perceived to be the safest.
Today’s final
report from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission
says a water taxi capsized off Stewart Island in September
2019 due to the vessel being less stable than anticipated in
the worse-than-expected sea conditions.
The Henerata
was crossing Paterson Inlet with the skipper and six
passengers on board when worsening weather conditions forced
it side-on to the waves. It filled with water and capsized,
trapping the passengers inside in an air pocket contaminated