Read Authentic Ratings for the Etg-Aquarius

A recent investigation has spotlighted serious safety deficiencies within New Zealand's stevedoring industry, following two tragic workplace fatalities at separate ports. The report, released by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) on October 20, 2023, highlights that current safety regulations are not sufficiently robust. Key findings reveal issues such as inadequate regulatory oversight, the absence of industry-wide safety standards, and a lack of formal safety management protocols which are typically enforced in other sectors. The report was initiated following the deaths of port workers Atiroa Tuaiti and Don Grant. On April 19, 2022, Tuaiti lost his life when a 40-foot container fell on him while he was working at the Port of Auckland. Just days later, Don Grant was killed at Lyttelton Port when he was buried in coal being loaded onto the vessel 'ETG Aquarius'. Tuaiti was employed by Wallace Investments Limited (WIL), a stevedoring firm at the Port of Auckland, while Grant worked for Lyttelton Port Company (LPC). Tuaiti's tragic accident occurred as he was part of a team loading 47 containers onto a ship. He was overseeing the operation by signaling to the crane operator from a tier of containers below. Tragically, he moved beneath a suspended container to address an issue with a twist lock and was pinned underneath as it was lowered. Emergency responders arrived within ten minutes, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Similarly, Don Grant's accident occurred while he was a coal signalman on the 'ETG Aquarius', where he oversaw coal loading throughout the process. He was positioned on a platform when coal began to spill over. It is believed that he fell off the platform and, subsequently, was found unresponsive by his colleagues after a brief period of radio silence. Rescuers pronounced him dead on-site. Though both Wallace Investments and LPC were actively working to enhance their safety measures at the time of the incidents, the TAIC report indicated systemic deficiencies in their safety protocols. It noted that risk management was predominantly reliant on administrative controls, and there were no stringent processes to guarantee their ongoing effectiveness. A significant concern raised in the report is the “lack of cohesiveness” within the stevedoring sector, which complicates benchmarking and sharing best practices across companies. The report also pointed out the insufficiency of training requirements and platforms for safety-related information exchange. One critical takeaway from the findings emphasizes that employees in high-risk environments can become desensitized to potential dangers, further endangering their safety. For more insights and visuals on this pressing issue, refer to the detailed report available on Stuff.

A heartbreaking incident occurred on the morning of April 25 when a port worker was tragically crushed by coal while loading the 'ETG Aquarius' at Cashin Quay in Lyttelton. The emergency services were quick to respond, dispatching three ambulances and two fire trucks shortly before 9:30 a.m. The vessel had arrived at Lyttelton on April 22, having come from Tianjin. In the wake of this unfortunate event, Maritime New Zealand has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the worker's death, while local police are conducting inquiries on behalf of the Coroner.