Cruise firm plays down close call for catamaran

A leak which maritime rescuers say could have capsized the Lyttelton-based Black Cat harbour pleasure cruiser is being played down by the cruise operator.

The Canterbury Coastguard was alerted about 1am yesterday after a pipe which carries water to help cool the starboard engine came loose.

Water continued to pump into the engine room until a crew member shut the engine down.

Coastguard marine controller Del Hurley said the incident near Port Levy was serious and could have capsized the craft.

But the Black Cat Group maintained that the catamaran, which operates out of Lyttelton Harbour, was never in serious danger.

Mr Hurley described the incident as a major water leak.

"What would have happened is one whole side of the boat would have filled up and she could capsize quite easily," Mr Hurley said.

"We were lucky there were only the four crew on board."

Black Cat Group managing director Paul Bingham said the leak did not pose a serious danger and a system of watertight compartments would have prevented the craft capsizing.

The catamaran was able to return to Lyttelton using the unaffected engine and by the time it berthed all the water had been pumped out.

About 90 passengers who were due to be picked up from Pigeon Bay were taken home by bus.

Mr Bingham said engineers were working on the craft and it would be business as usual today.

- NZPA