Shotover Jet boats to stay out of action after fire

A Shotover Jet

Queenstown-based Shotover Jet is to stay closed until tomorrow at least, after a fire on one of its boats.

A group of passengers was waiting to board on Sunday morning when the driver noticed the fire as he started the engine.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze but the boat sank before water could be pumped out. The boat was one of eight operated by the Ngai Tahu-owned venture.

Yesterday the company said its operations would stay closed at least until tomorrow, pending an independent investigation into the fire which had been in the boat's engine bay.

Ngai Tahu Tourism acting general manager Rick Tau said he was waiting for a report from the investigator that would identify the cause of the fire.

"We hope this preliminary report will be available by early tomorrow. We will then take the necessary steps to get the boats back on the water," he said.

Shotover Jet was working closely with Maritime New Zealand and the local harbour master and would not restart operations without their approval.

"Clearly we wish to get boats up and running as soon as possible but at the same time we will not compromise safety," Mr Tau said. Shotover Jet offers high-speed rides through the Shotover River's narrow canyons, in boats that can do 360-degree spins.

The company had voluntarily closed operations for six days two weeks ago to investigate the engine management system after technical difficulties, saying the problem was not safety related.

It was reported yesterday that the technical problems related to V6 engines installed two months ago, which reportedly had suffered 60 malfunctions in that time.

Queenstown Lakes District Council, which granted the concession to Shotover Jets to operate, said it was investigating the claims of about 60 incidents going unreported.

Chief executive Duncan Field said he was "concerned" about media reports that problems had been going on for some time. "There is an obligation in the safety programme for them to record and identify these faults," he told National Radio.

"We're not sure if these 60 incidents have occurred, we're following that up."

It appeared yesterday's fire was not connected with the problems of 10 days ago, which the company said was to do with computer programming of motor ignition, he said.

Initial investigations into the fire suggested it was fuel-related.

A spokeswoman for Shotover Jet said yesterday that the company had no comment on claims about unreported incidents, and described them as speculation.

- NZPA