TAIC Easy Rider inquiry in final stages

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has confirmed that its inquiry into the capsize and sinking of the Easy Rider in Foveaux Strait on 15 March 2012 is in its final stages. A legally-protected draft inquiry report has been provided to people closely connected to the accident so that submissions can be made before the Commission makes its determinations and issues a final inquiry report. Submissions close on 19 October, with the final report expected to be issued within about the next three months depending upon the nature of any submissions received and any further work required.

The Commission’s inquiry, focused on explaining the accident and recommending changes that might be required to improve transport safety, is completely separate from the regulatory investigation and subsequent prosecutions commenced by Maritime New Zealand.

ENDS

Note for Chief Reporters and Editors: The TAIC draft inquiry report’s contents are legally protected from disclosure by any unauthorised person under s14B(2)(d) of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990, with unauthorised disclosure being an offence under s14L of the Act. An offence is committed by any person disclosing the protected information, not just the original recipient. Please do not ask people who may have received a copy of the draft report to disclose its contents or comment generally upon them. These protections do not stop comment on Maritime New Zealand’s investigation and subsequent court proceedings provided such comment is based on what is disclosed through that process (and not in the TAIC draft report). These provisions help ensure, among other things, that natural justice is preserved for all involved in the TAIC inquiry and that people are not affected by draft inquiry findings that may not be confirmed.

Link to TAIC urgent safety recommendation relating to this accident (includes general background) issued on 18 April 2012: http://www.taic.org.nz/ReportsandSafetyRecs/MarineSafetyRecommendations/Urgentrecommendation02012/tabid/245/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Link to background on TAIC accident investigation and inquiry processes:
http://www.taic.org.nz/Accidentinvestigation/Accidentinvestigationoverview/tabid/215/language/en-US/Default.aspx

© Scoop Media