Fishing boat's operators hit back at danger claim

Fishing trawler Amaltal Atlantis that assisted during the search for survivors of the Oyang 70. Photo / Supplied

The operator of a South Korean fishing boat that sank, leaving three crew dead and three presumed dead, has taken issue with union claims that foreign-owned fishing vessels are an "accident waiting to happen".

Christchurch company Southern Storm Fishing, which chartered the 38-year-old Oyang 70 that sank suddenly 750km east of Dunedin on Wednesday, insists it was operating a safe vessel.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating (TAIC) why the 82m vessel capsized in calm conditions, while apparently hauling in fishing gear, and sank in about 10 minutes.

Forty-five crewmen made it into liferafts and were rescued by the nearby fishing boat Amaltal Atlantis, which responded to a distress call.

The survivors, and the bodies of three dead Indonesian crew members, were expected to arrive in Lyttelton port early today.

No trace has been found of three missing crew members, including the Korean captain, Shin Hyeon-gi.

Police will begin interviewing the survivors tomorrow, but do not expect to have a clear picture of the events at sea until next week.

Southern Storm Fishing director Hyun Gwan Choi could not be contacted, but company spokeswoman Michele Chapman told the Herald the Oyang 70 was seaworthy and had all the required safety certifications.

Lawyer Mike Sullivan, who represents the ship's Korean owner, Sajo Oyang Corporation, said the Oyang 70 was in good condition, was in full survey, was regularly dry-docked for maintenance and was under Safe Ship Management.

Maritime New Zealand confirmed the Oyang 70 had met all the relevant safety standards and had passed a foreign charter inspection as recently as last month.

The Ministry of Fisheries said it had no issues with the company operating the vessel.

Neville Donaldson of the Service and Food Workers Union, which represents fisheries workers, said an accident on a foreign-registered fishing ship was inevitable.

"Although we expected it, it doesn't make it any easier when you see workers lose their lives like that. The only miracle is that it's taken this long to happen."

He said many foreign charter operators cut corners to get contracts and staycompetitive.

"The vessels that are being used, in our view, are old, they aren't well maintained and it's all about costs," he said.

"That means they bring in low-cost crew, they work minimal staffing, they work long hours, they don't recognise health and safety as an important issue, so work practices in most situations are extremely poor.

"It's an absolute bloody accident waiting to happen."

three TAIC investigators would interview the surviving crew members when they arrived in Christchurch, spokesman Peter Northcote said.

The investigation could take up to a year, and would focus on establishing the contributing causes so lessons could be learned.

Sajo Oyang is planning its own search for the three missing men. Assistant manager Lee Gyeong-yeong told South Korean newspaper Joong Ang Daily he had discussed the search plans with Captain Shin's family, who refused to give up hope.

- Additional reporting by NZPA