A Wellington-based fishing company, its sole director, and a master were fined a total of $449,500 over the sinking of the grossly overloaded fishing boat ‘Victory II’ in June 2017. The company was also ordered to pay $64,800 in reparation to the crew for unpaid wages and emotional harm.
Maritime NZ Central Region Compliance Manager, Michael-Paul Abbott, said Victory II should have carried no more than five tonnes of fish.
Instead, it was loaded with at least 28 tonnes when it sank near Kaikōura...