Black Cat grounding detailed by TAIC

NEW Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its factual report into the near-loss of the small cruise vessel Black Cat in Akaroa Harbour in January this year.

The 17.3-metre passenger catamaran, owned by Black Cat Cruises of Akaroa, had departed its regular wharf at 1045 on a regular two-hour scenic cruise, with 38 passengers and 3 crewmembers.

Given the calm conditions the master decided to navigate outside the Harbour and visit Scenery Nook, on the south coast, after which he approached Archway Rock, a geological feature, enroute back to the harbour entrance.

However, while approaching Archway Rock Black Cat struck a submerged object. The vessel’s position at the time of impact aligned with a charted submerged rock of an unknown depth, TAIC says.

The master thought they might have hit the float of a crayfishing pot but couldn’t see anything in the water. About one minute after the scraping sound the bilge alarm activated.

The starboard hull was ruptured and began flooding with seawater. In response, the crew attempted to activate an additional bilge pumping system, but the crew were not confident in how to operate the system correctly, so the pump was not engaged.

The master manoeuvred Black Cat into Akaroa Harbour while summoning nearby craft via VHF radio to facilitate a safe evacuation, hoping to beach the vessel at Nikau Palm Gully.

However, the vessel’s steering and starboard engine had stopped operating and the emergency steering was not responding. By this point the Black Cat had developed a significant starboard list.

The passengers were safely evacuated onto responding vessels before the Coastguard unsuccessfully attempted to dewater the vessel.

While still trying to save the vessel, the master’s attempt to manoeuvre Black Cat towards the beach fell short when it ran aground.

All passengers and crew were safely transferred back to Akaroa without injury. A Tier 2 (regional) oil-spill response was declared by Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) at 1345. A salvage operation was initiated over the following days by Black Cat Cruises and their P&I club but efforts failed to refloat and recover the vessel, which broke up in heavy weather conditions.  

By 19 March 2026, all safe-to-collect vessel fragments were recovered and the Tier 2 response continued as a monitoring and observation presence. Environment Canterbury informed the Commission that the environmental impact of the accident was minimal.

TAIC says its investigation is ongoing and the interim report presents the facts and circumstances established up to this point in the Commission’s inquiry. Upon completion of the inquiry, the Commission will issue a final report on the accident. That final report will contain an analysis of the facts of the accident, findings, safety issues and recommendations (if any).

“This was a serious accident, where 41 people were at risk of significant harm, drawing heightened public interest,” TAIC said.

“This interim report has been prepared to provide timely information on the accident to the maritime industry and to the public, for clarity and to avoid similar maritime incidents or accidents in the future.”