Cyclone damage forces delay to fleet blessing ceremony

Fishermen will still cast their nets this winter, but the ravages of the sea have scuttled the traditional July holding of Nelson’s annual Blessing of the Fleet.

The popular event – a collective effort by Nelson fishing companies and the Seafarers’ Memorial Trust – attracts about 5000 people to the Seafarer’s Memorial on Wakefield Quay annually.

It is held to remember those who lost their lives at sea and is usually tied in with the start of the hoki season.

Following ex-cyclone Fehi on February 1, the area between the Settlers’ Memorial and Sunderland Pier on Wakefield Quay was damaged and the pavement and walkway still need fixing.

Seafarers’ Memorial Trust chairman Mike Smith said safety concerns had prompted a decision to defer the 2018 event.

‘‘We have a lot less space available to us because of the storm surge damage,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s nowhere else around there that we can use – the Yacht Club are restricted in the space we can use as well, so we’re in a bit of a tight space ... and I wouldn’t feel happy if someone was injured as a result ... especially when you have so many kids attending the event.’’

Smith said on Tuesday that no date had been confirmed for this year’s event, but discussions were underway.

This year would be the 18th edition of the ceremony, and organisers had wanted to hold it in May to avoid unpredictable winter weather conditions.

‘‘We had a great year last year and the weather was very much in our favour, but in the last three years one was cancelled and two were pretty blustery,’’ Smith said.

In 2011, the annual commemorative service was rescheduled from July 23 to October 29 due to work undertaken to improve public access along the front of the Nelson Yacht Club.

‘‘Without a shadow of a doubt we want it to continue because it’s been on the go for the last 17 years,’’ Smith said. Expected arrivals: Adria Ace, 41,009 tons, unload vehicles, MCQS, today; Gottfried Schulte, 35,991 tons, containers, MWS, Saturday; Aleksey Slobodchikov, 4,407 tons, unload fish, load bunkers, LU1, Saturday