Key Takeaways
- Two women, Patsy Deverall and Selah Weingott, suffered serious injuries during a fishing trip with South Taranaki Fishing Charters in January 2022.
- The company was prosecuted for failing to ensure the safety of its passengers and was convicted and fined.
- The incident highlights the importance of proper safety briefings and assessments of passengers’ suitability for certain trips.
- The company has learned from the incident and made changes to its operations to prioritize passenger safety.
- Maritime New Zealand emphasizes the need for charter operators to provide clear information about risks and ensure passengers understand how to keep themselves safe.
Introduction to the Incident
The incident occurred on January 3, 2022, when Deverall and Weingott, both in their 60s, booked a fishing trip with South Taranaki Fishing Charters. The trip ended in disaster when the women were thrown into the air and landed heavily on the deck while crossing the infamous Pātea bar. Weingott broke her nose and fractured her shoulder, which required reconstructive surgery, while Deverall injured her back. The company was later prosecuted for offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act and was convicted and fined.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The women had warned the skipper in advance that they were inexperienced, but they were given a brief and inadequate safety briefing. The briefing did not explain what a bar was or how passengers should use their legs to absorb any impact during the crossing. The passengers were not asked to confirm they had understood the safety briefing or if they had any questions before proceeding. After the incident, the women were helped up, and Weingott was given first aid, but the charter continued, and everybody fished apart from Weingott. Deverall drove Weingott to the hospital after they returned to shore, where a doctor urged her to contact WorkSafe.
The Prosecution and Conviction
Maritime New Zealand prosecuted South Taranaki Fishing Charters for failing to ensure the safety of its passengers. The company was convicted in the Whanganui District Court and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, court costs of $26,000, and reparations of $17,000 and $13,000 respectively to the women. The company’s owner, Peter Robins, deeply regretted the incident and apologized for it. He stated that the company had learned from the incident and made changes to reflect this.
The Importance of Safety Briefings
Maritime New Zealand’s general manager investigations, Pete Dwen, emphasized the need for charter operators to provide clear information about the risks involved in a bar crossing, including how conditions can change and the physicality of the crossing. Operators must also check the basic information that helps them assess suitability, such as a passenger’s experience on the water, age, medical or mobility issues, and swimming ability. Safety briefings must explain what passengers can do to keep themselves safe, including how to brace, what movement to expect, and allowing people to opt out if they don’t feel comfortable.
The Company’s Response and Changes
Robins said that the company had learned a lot from the incident and had made changes to its operations to prioritize passenger safety. The company now provides in advance information about what passengers can expect on a trip, including the conditions they might encounter, the hazards, and the level of strength or capability required. The company also asks about passengers’ age, health/mobility status, and prior experience and excludes people not equipped to handle a trip because of these factors. A safety briefing prior to a bar crossing now includes telling and showing passengers how to brace with their legs when the boat encounters a wave.
The Long-Term Effects of the Incident
Weingott regretted ever getting on the charter vessel and was still experiencing the effects of the incident. She was on pain medication and had difficulty performing daily tasks due to her injured arm. Deverall also still experienced trouble with her lumbar area, which was injured during the incident. The incident highlights the importance of prioritizing passenger safety and the need for charter operators to take all reasonable steps to keep passengers safe.