PILOTVESSEL WAKATERE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

POAL and one of its master fined after fatal accident due to excessive speed

THe Ports of Auckland Ltd., (POAL) and one of its masters have been fined a total of $432,400 after they admitted exposing people to risk of death or serious injury because pilot boats travelled at excessive speed in the Waitemata Harbour over a period of time involving thousands of voyages. The POAL has also agreed to pay $220,000 to the family of a swimmer, Leslie Gelberger, who died after being struck by the POAL pilot boat 'Wakatere' on April 20, 2017, whenhe was swimming about 270 metres from shore at the south end of Cheltenham Beach. The POAL and the master of the pilot boat, Grant More, were sentenced in the Auckland District Court on Feb 23, 2023, having previously pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Health and Safety at Work Act (section 48, failure to comply with a duty that exposes an individual to a risk of serious injury, serious illness or death). POAL admitted its pilot boats exceeded speed limits on between 3,465 and 4,257 journeys from April 20, 2017 to Han 31, 2018. This is approximately 99 percent of the journeys made by POAL pilot boats. Maritime NZ’s investigation identified the pattern of excessive speed over many months and thousands of journeys.