Classification
- Incident Type: Grounding
- Severity: Medium
- Tug involvement: yes
- Tug mechanism: Loss of control
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Purau |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | New Zealand [NZ] |
| IMO Number | Not reported |
| Gross Tonnage | 247 |
| LOA (m) | 29.85 |
| Breadth (m) | 9.49 |
| Year Built | 1986 |
| Crew Size | 4 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2002-03-01 |
| Location | Lyttelton oil wharf, Lyttelton, New Zealand |
| Region | New Zealand |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Investigation Body | Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) |
| Direct Damage | Extensive damage to the starboard propeller and drive shaft |
Narrative
At about 11:30 on 1 March 2002, Purau was assisting a tanker to depart the Lyttelton oil wharf when the tug master lost control and the tug's stern grounded. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission recorded extensive damage to the starboard propeller and drive shaft. The report records no injuries among the four crew and three passengers aboard.
Investigation
The investigation found that Purau grounded after the port engine unexpectedly increased speed, causing the master to lose control. It did not conclusively establish the cause of that increase. The report identified issues with propulsion-control ergonomics, staff training and propulsion-unit calibration.
References
Related
- New Zealand
- Grounding
- Tug Incident Classification
- Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC)