New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the grounding of the passenger vessel Fiordland Navigator – attributing the accident to the fatigued master who fell asleep at the
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the grounding of the passenger vessel Fiordland Navigator – attributing the accident to the fatigued master who fell asleep at the helm.
The accident occurred on January 24, 2024. The Fiordland Navigator ran aground while making a turn in Doubtful Sound. There were nine crew and 57 passengers on board, and several people received minor injuries. The vessel was moderately damaged.
The crew responded well to the emergency, safely evacuating passengers to Deep Cove, then to Te Anau that evening, says TAIC. The vessel returned to Deep Cove that night.
“The master almost certainly fell asleep at the controls due to workload-induced fatigue. The master was very likely fatigued from long work hours, which weren’t monitored or effectively managed. The operator’s safety system didn’t track actual rest hours or properly identify or mitigate fatigue risks for sole-charge masters,” states the report.
The master had a valid medical certificate, but medical fitness isn’t just a one-time check. There was no system to assure ongoing medical fitness during the two-year certification period. The vessel’s Senior Launch Master, responsible for safety procedures, had too much work to effectively oversee fatigue management.
The
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