Swamped boat was overloaded

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 15

Swamped boat was overloaded

NZPA Rarotonga ■ Twenty-four persons, in- 1 eluding five young children. I were rescued from a near' tragedy on Sunday after the vessel in which they were i travelling to the Northern! Cook Islands was swamped i on Wednesday night by heavy i seas. One man died in the accident, apparently after being crushed by loose cargo as the vessel, the 50ft Ravakai, overturned. His body was not recovered. The Ravakai is owned and run by the Cook Islands Government Fishing Department, and residents have sharply criticised the vessel master; they say the vessel was grossly overloaded. The Ravakai was designed as a fisheries research vessel to carry only a six-man crew. No comment was available from the master, but a member of the New Zealand Ministry of Transport rescue boat crew, who would not be named, said only sheer luck had prevented a major tragedy

He said the Ravakai had been grossly overloaded with passengers and cargo. The cargo of supplies, appliances, and fuel oil had been incorrectly stowed and was not tied down properly. The crew had refused to abandon the cargo when the vessel got into difficulties on Wednesday night and passengers. including a 3-year-old child and other children, had been left to clamber up the hull of the vessel on their own when the boat overturned. The Ravakaii is believed to have been swamped about midnight on Wednesday but no full search was mounted until Saturday afternoon when it was discovered the vessel had not arrived at Aitutaki, an outer island. Residents say the first announcement of the near tragedy was made in the newsheet. "Weekender,” published by the Cook Islands Opposition Party. It is believed that an inquiry will be held.