Maritime New Zealand says it has "no outstanding safety concerns" after it completed its preliminary investigation into the sinking of a tourist cruise boat in Doubtful Sound on November 28.
However, the Crown entity was assisting Environment Southland with its investigation to avoid duplication, Maritime spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst said yesterday.
Maritime would produce a summary of its preliminary investigation, but it would not be made public until Environment Southland's report was released before Christmas.
A Maritime investigator interviewed the skipper and crewman of the Waverley, Te Anau-based boat owners and Fiordland Cruises co-directors Clint Tauri and John Harris, plus two of the eight overseas passengers.
Environment Southland, Maritime's Marine Pollution Response Service and Fiordland Fisherman's radio were also questioned by the investigator.
The interviews were held immediately after the incident.
Environment Southland regional on-scene oil spill commander Kevin O'Sullivan said he and a colleague were sifting through "confusing and conflicting information" to determine what lessons needed to be learned from the incident and what legal action, if any, would be taken.
"We're still putting together information on what happened. The oil spill is pretty much over and we'll continue to monitor that. One of our compliance officers is doing further investigations and it should be completed before Christmas."
Mr O'Sullivan said the object the Waverley struck and which caused it to eventually sink was likely to be a rock.
Environment Southland and Land Information New Zealand are in the process of re-charting Doubtful Sound for the first time since 1999 and in far greater detail than has been produced before.
The first draft will be published in January.
