On May 29, the 16 meter, 29 tonne fishing vessel Kutere ran aground on Cobden Beach, New Zealand. The Kutere was headed for Greymouth in bad weather. The fishing vessel had been out for 7 days and decided to return to port as 30 knot winds and 3 meter swells. As the vessel approached Greymouth, the captain fell asleep at the helm. He had been asleep only 15 minutes, but that was enough time for the vessel to be blown off course. The Kutere had run aground 500 meters short to the entrance of the Grey River and ended up stranded just a few meters off the beach.
The three persons on board were able to send out a distress call before abandoning ship into the vessel’s life raft. All three were able to reach shore safely. No reports of injuries. Maritime New Zealand were alerted and has launched an investigation into the incident.
Reports state the fishing vessel will not be salvaged as it was not economic to refloat it. Work began to remove the Kutere off the beach the following the incident. Some 2000 litres of fuel and 5 tons of fish were unloaded off the fishing vessel. The mast was removed along with all the fishing gear. The vessel will then be hauled to the top of the sand dune where it will be further dismantled.
