Fishing boat runs aground
An investigation has been launched after a clam fishing trawler ran aground on a North Canterbury beach yesterday.
The 13m Stormcat beached at Waikuku Beach, 30km north of Christchurch. A Maritime NZ spokesperson confirmed that a “clam boat grounded at about 1.30am on March 19”.
“Those on board were able to safely get off,” the spokesperson said. “[Tuesday] morning, Maritime NZ sent investigations staff to the scene to start inquiries. The investigation into the grounding is ongoing.”
Images captured by a Herald photographer show the vessel beached with crew members on board. One crew member could be seen on the deck on a cellphone.
The Herald understands the boat is owned by Cloudy Bay Clams, a company that harvests surf clams along the coast of New Zealand.
“Cloudy Bay has successfully undergone both their fishery and chain of custody audits and now carry ‘Friend of the Sea’, an international sustainability seal of approval, for our surf clams,” the company website says.
Cloudy Bay Clams managing director Isaac Piper told the Herald: “At around 1am the skipper wrapped up a rope and a hose. He made the right decision rather than panicking to shut down — let it rest on the beach, clear everything and then when the tide comes in, pull it back off.”
Piper said the crews stayed on the boat overnight. “There’s no damage to the boat. The purpose-built boats are designed to be able to sit on the beach.”
He confirmed his team had organised to tow the boat off the beach last night and was confident the vessel would be fully operational.