A Coroner's Inquest into the August 2010 sinking of the foreign charter fishing vessel 'Oyang 70' has identified systemic failure of ship management and safety practices, and routine violation of maritime rules and seafaring practice.
Six persons drowned in the sinking, which occurred 400 nautical miles east of New Zealand's South Island, when the master reportedly attempted to take onboard an oversized net of catch which caused the vessel to take on water.
With no evacuation system said to be in place, crew members were left to fend for themselves. A worse outcome was reportedly only avoided due to the fast rescue action of the nearby New Zealand vessel, 'Amaltal Atlantis'.
Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Joe Fleetwood describes the incident as a "stain on New Zealand's conscience".
"The deaths of the workers involved are a result of the rotten practices that have been permitted to take hold in the fishing industry," he said.
Iain MacIntyre