Charter skipper fined $3900 after running out of fuel at sea

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The prosecution of a charter boat skipper highlights the need for operators to ensure they are properly prepared.

The skipper of charter boat Pelagic — Kieren Boyle — was recently sentenced in Wellington District Court for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act in relation to a vessel running out of fuel off the coast of Gisborne.

On June 6, 2022, Boyle took four customers and a crew member on a charter for tuna. About 27 nautical miles off the coast of Gisborne, the vessel ran out of fuel.

Maritime NZ Central region general regulatory operations manager Jarred McCarthy said failing to ensure a vessel had enough fuel for a journey put everyone on board at risk.

“If a vessel runs out of fuel offshore, the vessel and everyone on board will be at the mercy of the weather and conditions at sea unless or until they can be rescued. This is not a risk worth taking.

“Weather at sea can often change quickly and running out of fuel can increase the risk of capsize, passenger injury due to a lack of stability and the vessel drifting, causing those on board to run out of supplies,” he said.

In the vessel’s pre-voyage check, there was an instruction to check the fuel levels but “this clearly didn’t take place adequately or properly prior to departure”.

“People undertaking charter operations have a right to believe proper procedures are being followed prior to departing and during their expedition. This wasn’t the case on this trip.”

Boyle was fined $3900.

The Lion Foundation Coastguard boat from Gisborne and another fishing vessel were involved in getting fuel to the stricken vehicle.