Boaties are being warned away from the mouth of the Akaroa Harbour as crews contain a fuel spill from a grounded tour boat.
Dozens of passengers were taken off a Black Cat Cruises vessel after it was grounded just inside the Akaroa Heads.
The 17‑metre boat had departed Akaroa Wharf at 10.45am with 41 people on board before getting into trouble on its return journey.
Environment Canterbury said the boat was carrying 2240 litres of marine diesel fuel on board and around 120 litres of other oils in sealed containers and engines combined.
Regional on-scene commander Emma Parr said a light fuel sheen was visible on the water surrounding the vessel.
“A dedicated wildlife team is on standby, and response options will continue to be closely monitored and assessed throughout the day to minimise any environmental impact,” she said.
A Tier 2 incident response had been declared yesterday with an exclusion zone remaining in place.
“All vessels not involved in the response must stay clear of the area to ensure the safety of responders and the public,” Parr said.
“A recovery plan is being developed as we continue working alongside the vessel owner, emergency services, the Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand, iwi, and the local community.”
Local skipper George Waghorne said the grounding was a “freak accident” and praised the coordinated rescue effort.
Waghorne, a seventh‑generation local, helped ferry passengers off the stricken vessel in a small tender alongside his four‑year‑old daughter, before transferring 29 people onto his boat.
“Everyone worked pretty hard together and did a great job getting the patrons off,” he said. “It all went pretty smooth.”
The incident involved a Black Cat cruise vessel, with 39 passengers and three crew members on board. (Source: 1News)
TAIC inquiry into grounding
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) announced yesterday it had opened an inquiry into the accident.
Chief investigator of accidents, Louise Cook said the Commission was appealing to any witnesses who filmed or took pictures of the 17-metre commercial passenger vessel during the incident to come forward.
“Getting the facts straight is vital, so we’re keen to hear as soon as possible from people who were on this vessel and anyone who saw the accident, and we’re particularly keen to receive videos or photographs,” she said.
The commission had also appointed a dedicated investigation team, who would be travelling to Akaroa to carry out interviews and collect evidence.
“The initial focus is on gathering evidence that could disappear or change – not just flotsam from the impact, but also memories while they’re fresh in people’s minds,” said Cook.
Over the next several days, TAIC’s investigators will be seeking and recovering any wreckage where possible, securing electronic records – including photos, videos, and location data on people’s cellphones – and interviewing witnesses.
American tourist Chris Friedman told 1News he was onboard with his partner and enjoying the dolphin‑watching trip when they suddenly felt a thud.
“At first we wondered if it was a dolphin or a seal strike.”
Within five minutes, passengers were told to move into the interior of the vessel and don life jackets.
“At that point we noticed water coming into the boat, then we started to see smoke in the galley area,” he said.
Nearby private boats responded first. Friedman said passengers were transferred one group at a time, while some remained onboard during the early stages of the evacuation.
He and his partner were shaken but unhurt.