NB: The below is a brief plain English summary of key points in the report. The Commission's report speaks for itself -- you can download the full document here: www.taic.org.nz/inquiry/mo-2024-203.
Briefly
Grounding near Auckland: new TAIC report reminds us why the basics always matter. This is a real-world case study and useful training material for what can go wrong when safety critical staff overlook the basics.
What happened
Approaching Auckland, the Japanese longline fishing vessel Chokyu Maru No.68 ('Chokyo Maru') grounded on rocks near The Noises. The vessel was refloated and towed the same day. None of the 27 crew was injured and there was no pollution.
Why it happened
This avoidable incident shows what happens when safety critical staff overlook the basics – in this case, fundamentals of safe navigation:
No passage plan was appraised, documented, or resourced before sailing from Japan.
Position knowledge: The crew responsible for navigation did not use all available means to verify the vessel’s position. The vessel lacked large-scale charts and publications that showed local hazards.
Hazard awareness: The master was unaware of the rocks and islands between the vessel and the pilot boarding ground — and set a straight-line course that led to the grounding.
Safety
Plan the passage. Check your position. Know the hazards. These are not optional steps — they are requirements under SOLAS and good seamanship. When any one of them is skipped, safety margins shrink dramatically.
Voyage planning and execution
The operator had not ensured compliance with international requirements.
TAIC recommendation: The Commission has recommended that the vessel's operator address this
Port-State Control of fishing vessels
This incident highlights the risk of substandard foreign fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters.
This issue has been addressed. Maritime NZ now has more capacity for inspections under the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding, to include fishing vessels in New Zealand’s port-state regime.
No repeat accidents – ever!
The principal purpose of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission is to determine the circumstances and causes of aviation, marine, and rail accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future, rather than to ascribe blame to any person. TAIC opens an inquiry when it believes the reported circumstances of an accident or incident have - or are likely to have - significant implications for transport safety, or when the inquiry may allow the Commission to make findings or recommendations to improve transport safety.