BUTIYALO THREE

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Death on board caused by unsafe standards

An Indonesian fisherman died after being caught in a winch on the "GOM 379" on May 5, 2014, while the ship did not comply with New Zealand safety standards, a coroner's report has found. Triyono, a deckhand from Java, died of spinal cord injuries after being pinned against the trawl net winch by a rope, the report, released on July 8, 2015, said. The vessel had been fishing for squid in the Southern Ocean, near the Auckland Islands, about 350 kilometres south of New Zealand. According to the report, Triyono became trapped between the coils of the rope which were caught in the revolving drum of the winch. His family objected to a full post-mortem examination for cultural reasons. Despite this, tests showed that the injuries he received included traumatic transection of the cervical spine, which proved instantly fatal. Evidence from Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) specialist investigator Martin Harper found that the vessel's management did not comply with industry best practice, which contributed to Triyono's death. The absence of a dedicated winch operator was another factor. MNZ wrote to the Korean owner of the "GOM 379" to say use of the winch should be stopped immediately. Until it was proven to be operating safely, the vessel cannot lawfully operate commercially in New Zealand waters. MNZ was preparing basic safety guidelines for operating winches. The coroner recommended that MNZ continue its supervision of fishing boats owned and operated outside the country. At the time of the death, the vessel was operated by Auckland-based company Northland Deepwater Ltd. Partnership, and it arrived at Bluff carrying the body of Triyono the day after he died.

MNZ Inspectors Board Fishing Vessels Off South Island

A joint operation by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and the New Zealand Defence Force – Operation Moana – has seen 16 fishing vessels operating off the west coast of the South Island boarded and inspected to ensure they are meeting environmental and safety standards. Two Korean-flagged foreign charter fishing vessels (FCFVs) – Gom 379 and Ser Este 700 – were sent back to port to rectify non-compliances related to marine protection rules. In addition to environmental protection issues, inspection of the vessels covered certification and life-saving appliances, emergency preparedness and working practices.

NZ police investigating death on board

The body of an Indonesian fisherman killed aboard the "GOM 379" has arrived in Bluff. The vessel GOM379 berthed at the southern port on May 6, 2014, about 3 p.m. LT and was met by local police and maritime authorities. The crewman died on May 5 while retrieving a fishing net when the ship was 65 nautical miles north of the Auckland Islands within New Zealand waters. The Indonesian embassy was helping to try to contact the family. A post-mortem waa to be carried out on MAy 7. Police interrogated the crew as part of their investigation on behalf of the coroner. The ship's operator Ngapuhi's Northland Deepwater Limited Partnership in 2011 defended the conditions aboard the vessel during a ministerial inquiry into conditions aboard foreign charter vessels, where claims of on board slavery were made.