Dive Operator Sentenced after Propeller Death
A New Zealand dive operator and skipper have been sentenced for the February 2014 death of a diver struck by a propeller while on a trip to the Poor Knights Islands, Maritime New Zealand announced. Whangarei diving company The Dive Spot Limited has been fined $50,000 and co-director and skipper Mark Andrew Barnes fined $25,000 after the death of diver Bruce Porter on February 7, 2014. Reparations of $50,000 and $30,000 are also to be paid by The Dive Spot Limited and Barnes, respectively. Maritime New Zealand prosecuted the company and Barnes under sections 15 and 19 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction at work caused harm to any person.
Toxic Spill Source a Mystery
An investigation to find the ship that spilled a toxic fumigant near the Poor Knights Islands in April has uncovered a gap in international fumigation standards, but has been unable to identify the offending ship. The Magnesium Phosphide cargo fumigant, which was packaged in about 50 cardboard tubes, was active and a danger to the public so a major recovery operation was carried out. During its investigation into the incident, Maritime New Zealand identified a gap in international legislation surrounding a lack of standards that prohibit Magnesium Phosphide being discharged at sea. Maritime NZ has bought this to the attention of the International Maritime Organization, so other incidents such as this can be prevented.
