Cellphone blamed for fatal Sounds crash: report

A fatal collision between an aluminium workboat and an ex-naval vessel in the Marlborough Sounds occurred when the workboat's skipper became distracted by a cellphone, a crash investigation concludes.

Skipper Anton Lewis Perano, a father of three, and Troy Anthony Climo, both 38, were killed when their 6-metre runabout Shikari collided with the moored ex-naval patrol vessel Flightless at Waikawa Bay, near Picton, on June 20 last year.

The pair were among six NZ King Salmon workers - five men and one woman - returning home after checking salmon farms in the Queen Charlotte Sound.

A report released today by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) found the high-speed collision occurred when Mr Perano became distracted while using a cellphone.

He had been on a call less than one minute before the crash.

The Shikari was travelling about 29 knots (55km) in a 5 knot speed zone when it struck the Flightless.

In a submission to TAIC, NZ King Salmon said the boat's excessive speed was due to "normalisation through the repetitive nature of the trip" but the commission rejected the claim.

"It could not be established whether the excessive speed was due to distraction from using a cellphone, or was a routine violation of the speed limit," the report said.

Mr Perano was an experienced skipper who travelled the route five times a week.

The normal route was to dock at the eastern side of the bay but on the day of the collision Mr Perano headed across the bay to drop passengers off on the western side of Waikawa Marina.

Mr Perano would have been aware of the Flightless' location as it had been moored in the same position for about 15 months, the report said.

"The whole inshore zone in which the Flightless was moored was peppered with moored boats. Again, the skipper would have been aware of its position as he passed it most days on his way to and from the sea-farms."

In addition to the two fatalities, several of the other passengers were badly injured.

One man had seven broken ribs, a ripped aorta, serious tendon injuries in his leg, a broken clavicle and spine and spent seven days in an induced coma.

Another man suffered six broken ribs and a broken arm.

Mr Perano and the Shikari was also found to be in violation of five Maritime rules including having expired Local Launch Operator and Safe Ship Management Certificates.

None of the violations were thought to have had contributed to the collision.

As a result of the crash, Maritime NZ issued a safety bulletin alerting masters and skippers to the safety risk of using mobile phones while operating a vessel.

A technical trainer was also sent to NZ King Salmon to ensure it was "aware of its responsibility to develop an effective health and safety system".

NZ King Salmon revised its vessel operating procedures to comply with Maritime rules.

At the Blenheim District Court in June, the company was ordered to pay fines and reparation of more than $260,000 after pleading guilty to four charges including operating a ship in a manner causing unnecessary risk or danger.

- NZPA