Media report states that an 18 metre-long surface longliner they were on began to “take on water very, very fast” before sinking 90km off the Coromandel coast. But there were no human casualty as three men managed to escape with their lives when the boat was sinking. The reason of sinking Whitianga’s Rebecca May is not clear yet but an impact with submerged debris from the stricken Rena could not be ruled out.
Dugal MacFarlane has directed the Tuna Fishing Company that owns three commercial fishing boats, one of which was the Rebecca May. MacFarlane’s son Wayne was skipper when the longliner, which was worth up to $600,000, sunk about noon yesterday. He informed that he had talked with his son just before the boat started sinking. He is not sure whether he hit something or not. But it was taking water through the hull something quick, admits MacFarlane.
Experts believe that there might be some mechanical failure. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand issued broadcasts to vessels in the area. The Whitianga-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter also flew to the scene and crewman saw flotsam and about 50 bouys strewn across the surface where Rebecca May sank. But the three on board, including Wayne MacFarlane, had already been picked up by the Lady Columbo.
Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst said still there is no lcue of hitting with debris confirmed. She said that the authority is making it sown investigation in this case based on initial inquiries. The steel-hulled boat was built in Australia and driven across the Tasman in 2002. Since then it’s “seen some real rough stuff”.
