Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Up next
ZB

Probe launched after fishing boat runs aground on Canterbury beach

Author
Pierre Nixon,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 Mar 2024, 1:21pm
A fishing vessel has run aground at Waikuku Beach north of Christchurch, sparking an investigation. Photo / George Heard
A fishing vessel has run aground at Waikuku Beach north of Christchurch, sparking an investigation. Photo / George Heard

Probe launched after fishing boat runs aground on Canterbury beach

Author
Pierre Nixon,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 Mar 2024, 1:21pm

An investigation has been launched after a clam fishing trawler ran aground on a North Canterbury in the early hours of this morning.

The 13m Stormcat is beached at Waikuku Beach about 30km north of Christchurch.

A Maritime NZ spokesperson confirmed that a 鈥渃lam boat grounded at about 1.30am on March 19鈥�.

鈥淭hose on board were able to safely get off,鈥� the spokesperson said.

鈥淭his morning, Maritime NZ sent investigations staff to the scene to start inquiries. The investigation into the grounding is ongoing.鈥�

Photo / George Heard
Photo / George Heard

Images captured by a Herald photographer show the vessel beached with crew members on board.

One crew member can be seen on the deck on a cellphone.

A crew member has remained on the vessel. Photo / George Heard
A crew member has remained on the vessel. Photo / George Heard

The Herald understands the boat is owned by Cloudy Bay Clams, a company that harvests surf clams along the coast of New Zealand.

鈥淐loudy Bay has successfully undergone both their fishery and chain of custody audits and now carry 鈥楩riend of the Sea鈥�, an international sustainability seal of approval, for our surf clams,鈥� the company website says.

The vessel remains beached nearly 12 hours after running aground. Photo / George Heard
The vessel remains beached nearly 12 hours after running aground. Photo / George Heard

Cloudy Bay Clams managing director Isaac Piper told the Herald: 鈥淎t around 1am the skipper wrapped up a rope and a hose.鈥�

鈥淗e made the right decision rather than panicking to shut down, let it rest on the beach, clear everything and then when the tide comes in, pull it back off.鈥�

Piper said the crews stayed on the boat overnight and were able to get off safely.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no damage to the boat, there鈥檚 nothing.鈥�

鈥淗e made exactly the right decision rather than panicking and putting people at risk and risking gear.鈥�

鈥淭he purpose-built boats are designed to be able to sit on the beach,鈥� Piper said.

He confirmed his team has organised to tow the boat off the beach tonight and is confident the vessel will be fully operational.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you