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Harbour Incidents
The background pic shows "Spirit Of Resolution" at anchor in Waikowhai Bay, near Cape Horn, late on 5 February, 2011, following a steering gear failure and subsequent grounding at 1139 that day. After repair work, she departed next day, escorted by "Tika".
While this was a relatively minor affair, there have been a few other shipping incidents on the Manukau Harbour over the years which have prompted the involvement of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
On a few occasions - three "Spirit Of Resolution" groundings on 21 July 2005, 3 February 2011 and 5 February 2011, for instance - following initial investigations, they deemed the need for a report unnecessary, as the circumstances were unlikely to have significant implications for transport safety.
That was not the case with the below occurrences, however, all but one of which are readily available on the internet. Click on the ship's name, then double click on the image which follows - it will open the PDF to allow you to read the TAIC (or, in a couple of cases, MNZ) incident report arising from their investigation into the event concerned.
Before doing so, however, it is prudent to make mention of the first major incident on the Manukau, the collision between the twin-screw steamer "Gairloch" and the "Herald" off Cape Horn on 3 May 1885 at 12.45am.
Under the command of Captain Findlay McArthur, "Gairloch" was steaming up the harbour with her foresails set when the "Herald", commanded by Captain Savory and making about nine knots, ploughed into her starboard bow, smashing a number of her plates. The subsequent Court of Inquiry deemed speed to be the key factor, as these were restricted waters.
Another incident occurred on 28 October 1928, and was recorded by Pat W. Win in his 2009 book "The Anchor Foundry - A History". More info here. And while it didn't occur at Onehunga, the grounding of "Titoki" at Greymouth on 1 September 1975 was a close call for one of our regulars - she made 298 calls to Onehunga in 24.5 years.
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