New Zealand accident investigators publish report on Japanese fishing boat grounding near Auckland

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission of New Zealand (TAIC) has published its report on its investigation into a grounding incident involving the Japanese longline fishing vessel Chokyu Maru No 68 near Auckland on April 16, 2024.

On the said date, Chokyu Maru No 68 grounded on rocks near The Noises, an area in the Hauraki Gulf, as it was approaching Auckland.

TAIC said the vessel was refloated and towed the same day. None of the 27 crewmembers were injured and there was no pollution.

Why it happened

TAIC said the 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. Also, the crew responsible for navigation did not use all available means to verify the vessel’s position, as the vessel had lacked large-scale charts and publications that showed local hazards.

Finally, 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 recommendations

TAIC advises operators to plan their passages, check their positions, and know any and all hazards when navigating.

"These are not optional steps — they are requirements under SOLAS and good seamanship," TAIC said. "When any one of them is skipped, safety margins shrink dramatically."

As the boat's operator had not ensured compliance with international requirements, TAIC has recommended that the operator address this shortcoming.

TAIC added that the incident also highlights the risk of substandard foreign fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters.

The commission said this issue has been addressed, and Maritime New Zealand now has more capacity for inspections under the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding, to include fishing vessels in New Zealand’s port-state regime.