Latest news with #TAIC
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
KiwiRail staff 'overworked' when machine derailed in Auckland, TAIC says
File pic Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone KiwiRail staff were "overworked and under supported" when a railway maintenance machine derailed at an Auckland tunnel, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) says. Three linked tamper machines came off the rails in Purewa Tunnel shortly after midnight on 9 November, 2023 after a section of track had been removed. A tamper is a railway maintenance machine that lifts and aligns track while compacting the ballast beneath the sleepers, to create a smoother path for trains. None of the crew or any track workers were injured, but the machine was badly damaged. The TAIC report, released on Friday, explained how train controllers and track officers were kept in the dark about a gap in the railway. The train controller, the worksite's rail protection officer for the worksite and four train crew members were all unaware of the report said the driver of the lead machine saw the missing rails but could not stop in time. "[The tamper] was unable to stop before driving off the end of the track and into ballast, where it travelled for 16.4 metres before stopping. The rear two machines were able to stop and remain on the track." Staff aware of the missing track did not properly communicate it to key personnel. "Safety-critical information about the removal of the track within the project area was not provided to the track protection team because the key staff who were responsible were absent," the report said. "Key staff were unsupported while working in safety-critical roles and had very high work volumes." In a statement, TAIC acting chief investigator of accidents Louise Cook said the accident was preventable. "There were no engineering protections in place - nothing automatic to stop a train or to warn that rails weren't in place. Engineering controls are more reliable than rules and procedures that govern human behaviour. "We've recommended KiwiRail require such protections wherever tracks are impassable - like in the Purewa Tunnel that night, where the track had been removed for repairs. "Authorisation for the rail movement relied on people applying rules and procedures. But those failed because safety-critical staff were overworked, and the people who knew the track was gone were unavailable and hadn't communicated crucial information." The commission recommended KiwiRail review and improve its process for authorising rail movements within worksites to ensure the safe movement of all rail traffic and personnel within protected work areas. The recommendations included the "verification of track integrity and the sharing of and access to safety-critical information". KiwiRail has also been called to review and improve its rules and procedures relating to track maintenance work. Lastly, it was being asked to review its national project management structure to ensure there was sufficient oversight of and ongoing support for all project staff. KiwiRail accepted all of the commission's recommendations. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
3 days ago
- General
- 1News
Poor seamanship, lack of proper charts led to Hauraki Gulf grounding
Poor seamanship and a failure to carry proper charts caused a Japanese fishing boat to hit rocks in the Hauraki Gulf last year, an investigation has found. About 3.40am on April 16, 2024, the Chokyu Maru No.68 was approaching Auckland when it struck The Noises, a group of islands about 25km northeast of the city. The ship sustained a small hole in its bow and damage to its propeller, but none of the 27 crew on board was injured and there was no oil leak or other environmental damage. The 48-metre vessel was refloated later that morning and towed to port for repairs. The grounding sparked an investigation by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), which released its findings late last week. ADVERTISEMENT Acting chief investigator of accidents Louise Cooke said it was a "textbook example" of what could happen when the basics of good seamanship were ignored. "Basic seamanship is the core issue of this accident. Crew leaders must always plan the voyage, know the hazards, and verify position. This isn't optional, it's basic good seamanship and it's required all over the world," she said. The TAIC report found the Chokyu Maru No.68 had left Japan without large-scale paper charts —in particular a crucial chart showing the approaches to Auckland — or nautical publications setting out the safest route into Waitematā Harbour. The longliner also left Japan without a formal voyage plan. In the absence of detailed paper charts, the master relied on the chart plotter to determine the ship's position. However, electronic charts for New Zealand had not been installed, so the plotter did not display the small islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The TAIC investigation also found only one of the vessel's two radar units was in use at the time, because the crew believed the second unit was broken. ADVERTISEMENT It was in fact working, but the settings were unsuitable for identifying hazards. Without detailed charts or information about navigational risks, the master set a straight-line course to Auckland in the mistaken belief there was safe water all the way. The TAIC report stated it was "virtually certain" the crew would have identified the hazards and plotted a safe course, had they prepared a voyage plan in advance using proper charts and publications. The key lesson from the Chokyu Maru No.68 grounding was the "fundamental importance" of a well-researched and documented voyage plan. Since the accident, Cooke said Maritime NZ had taken steps to improve the safety of foreign-flagged fishing vessels in New Zealand waters. She said Maritime NZ inspectors now had better tools to identify and address safety issues, thanks to better access to world-wide data and the inclusion of fishing vessels in the international inspection regime. TAIC investigations aim to establish the cause of transport accidents and prevent similar incidents happening again. They do not seek to assign blame or lead to prosecution. ADVERTISEMENT
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Chokyu Maru No.68 grounding: Poor seamanship, failure to carry proper charts led to Hauraki Gulf grounding
Failures of basic seamanship led to the grounding of a Japanese fishing boat in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf last year, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission has found. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Harbourmaster Poor seamanship and a failure to carry proper charts caused a Japanese fishing boat to hit rocks in the Hauraki Gulf last year, an investigation has found. About 3.40am on 16 April 2024, the Chokyu Maru No.68 was approaching Auckland when it struck The Noises, a group of islands about 25km northeast of the city. The ship sustained a small hole in its bow and damage to its propeller, but none of the 27 crew on board was injured and there was no oil leak or other environmental damage. The 48-metre vessel was refloated later that morning and towed to port for repairs. The grounding sparked an investigation by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), which released its findings late last week. Acting chief investigator of accidents Louise Cooke said it was a "textbook example" of what could happen when the basics of good seamanship were ignored. "Basic seamanship is the core issue of this accident. Crew leaders must always plan the voyage, know the hazards, and verify position. This isn't optional, it's basic good seamanship and it's required all over the world," she said. The TAIC report found the Chokyu Maru No.68 had left Japan without large-scale paper charts - in particular a crucial chart showing the approaches to Auckland - or nautical publications setting out the safest route into Waitematā Harbour. The longliner also left Japan without a formal voyage plan. In the absence of detailed paper charts, the master relied on the chart plotter to determine the ship's position. However, electronic charts for New Zealand had not been installed, so the plotter did not display the small islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The TAIC investigation also found only one of the vessel's two radar units was in use at the time, because the crew believed the second unit was broken. It was in fact working, but the settings were unsuitable for identifying hazards. Without detailed charts or information about navigational risks, the master set a straight-line course to Auckland in the mistaken belief there was safe water all the way. The TAIC report stated it was "virtually certain" the crew would have identified the hazards and plotted a safe course, had they prepared a voyage plan in advance using proper charts and publications. The key lesson from the Chokyu Maru No.68 grounding was the "fundamental importance" of a well-researched and documented voyage plan. Since the accident, Cooke said Maritime NZ had taken steps to improve the safety of foreign-flagged fishing vessels in New Zealand waters. She said Maritime NZ inspectors now had better tools to identify and address safety issues, thanks to better access to world-wide data and the inclusion of fishing vessels in the international inspection regime. TAIC investigations aim to establish the cause of transport accidents and prevent similar incidents happening again. They do not seek to assign blame or lead to prosecution.
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Scoop
TAIC Report – Drone Nearly Collides With A320 Passenger Plane
Press Release – Transport Accident Investigation Commission TAIC investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a drone, at 2000 feet on the approach to Auckland airport last April. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is highlighting the need for better identification and control of drones and operators. TAIC investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a drone, at 2000 feet on the approach to Auckland airport last April. The Commission found that it was very likely to have been a drone, in breach of current rules prohibiting drones from within 4 km of airports except in limited and approved circumstances. Neither the drone nor its operator could be identified. 'Most drone users comply with civil aviation rules, but some either don't know the rules or choose to disobey them due to an expectation they won't face consequences,' says TAIC Manager Air Investigations Jim Burtenshaw. 'The onus is on drone operators to avoid aircraft. People buying and flying a drone should first know how to operate it safely, and where they can't fly.' Information and other tools are available to assist operators to operate their drones safely and comply with the Civil Aviation Rules, for example on the AirShare website. 'There would very likely be more compliance with the rules with operator licencing/accreditation, registration of drones, electronic conspicuity or remote identification of drones and geo-fencing or geo-location awareness. TAIC recommends the Ministry of Transport and CAA work to work to fully integrate drones into the aviation system and develop appropriate rules and standards, to reflect technology developments and relevant international best practices.
NZ Herald
11-06-2025
- NZ Herald
TAIC urges stricter drone rules after ‘near-collision' with Air NZ flight approaching Auckland airport
Transport crash experts are calling for stricter drone registration rules after a near-miss between a passenger plane and a drone at Auckland Airport. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a
