Skipper pleads guilty to safety offences that led to tour boat crash in Western Australia

Australian news outlet ABC reports that the captain of a tour boat that was involved in a crash in Western Australia's Kimberley region two years prior has pleaded guilty to a number of safety-related offences.

Edward James Whisson was at the helm of the high-speed tour boat Falls Express when it struck a rock wall at the Horizontal Falls nature preserve in Kimberley shortly after 07:00 local time on May 27, 2022.

All 26 passengers and two crewmembers who were on the boat were safely rescued. Some of the occupants suffered significant injuries requiring surgery, though none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said that the boat did not capsize and none of its occupants fell into the water following the crash, contrary to earlier media reports.

In May 2023, one year after the crash, charges were filed against Mr Whisson and boat operator Journey Beyond Adventures (which trades under the name Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures) following AMSA's investigation and gathering and analysis of evidence.

On Monday, December 2, Mr Whisson pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court in Perth to two charges, namely, failing to take reasonable care and not implementing and complying with the safety management system for the vessel and its operations.

The defence counsel representing Journey Beyond Adventures told ABC that the company will also enter a guilty plea to one charge. A separate charge against the company will meanwhile be dropped following the conclusion of discussions with prosecutors.