Teone Taiaroa, 62, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after admitting doing a dangerous activity involving a ship, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison.
The defendant’s boat Tamahine eventually sank and he was dramatically rescued by helicopter following the incident on June 4 last year.
The court heard Taiaroa left Ōtākou Wharf, with a crew member who had only been working for him for four days, at 6.15am.
Court documents said once out of the Otago Shipping Channel the defendant set the satellite compass autopilot for the fishing grounds to the northeast before making a coffee and reading a news article on his cellphone.
The vessel, though, was heading in a southeasterly direction.
The inexperienced crew member was also consumed by his phone as they unwittingly sailed through darkness towards disaster.
"Mr Taiaroa did not keep a proper lookout by sight and hearing and using all available means," a Maritime New Zealand summary said.
"There was a range of navigational equipment available on board Tamahine including a chart plotter, radar, sounder, a magnetic compass and charts."
About nine minutes after setting the autopilot, Taiaroa became aware they were travelling in the wrong direction and engaged manual steering.
The defendant launched a life raft and he and his crewman were winched to safety by a rescue chopper.
Six hours after the grounding, Tamahine sank.
Taiaroa was treated for hypothermia in hospital and discharged the same day, the court heard.
"What happened really amounts to a sad and tragic incident which would have been frightening for all concerned," Judge Dominic Flatley said.
"That will have had an impact on you and will continue to do so, and that, to some extent, is a penalty in itself."
The judge noted the boat was not insured.
Counsel Anne Stevens KC stressed her client’s ability to pay a fine was hampered by his fluctuating income, which was dependent on fine fishing weather.
"Given your very long history in the industry and very good reputation, this will have a significant impact," Judge Flatley said.
