About 40 family members, friends and colleagues gathered for the inquest into the deaths, presumed by drowning, of K-Cee skipper-owner Bruce Robert Gordon (42), of Te Anau, and crewman Darren James Allen (37), also known as Fitzgerald, of Wairio, and the deaths, presumed by drowning, of Governor skipper Kevin John Cosgrove (60), of Dobson, Greymouth and crewman Nirvana Drew Reynolds (16), of Blackball, also near Greymouth.
K-Cee was reported missing in Doubtful Sound on May 1 last year, after heading out to open sea in rough weather conditions from Blanket Bay.
Governor was reported missing off the coast of Fiordland near Milford Sound late on September 15 last year. None of the four bodies was recovered, despite intensive police and volunteer searches.
The life-saving benefits of an automatically activating float-free emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and inflatable life jackets were recurring themes in the statements heard by Southern coroner David Crerar.
Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley, Western Southland sub-area commander, said police believed K-Cee was involved in a ''catastrophic'' event south of Rocky Point, off the coast of Secretary Island, as the two men were tending their cray pots on the morning of April 30.
''Neither Bruce Gordon or Darren Allen were able to activate the EPIRB or give a Mayday call by radio,'' Snr Sgt Fairley said.
''It is unknown if they were wearing life jackets at the time.''
Andrew Barnes, of Te Anau, former crewman of the ''very experienced'' Mr Gordon, said the ''well-maintained'' K-Cee received frequent weather faxes and reports. However, the men did not often wear inflatable life jackets on board, he said.
Maritime New Zealand investigator Domonic Venz, of Nelson, said information suggested K-Cee was in rough weather with large breaking waves.
It was likely the boat was capsized by one of the large waves and broke up on the rocks, Mr Venz said.
''Both men may have been thrown into the water and, without life jackets and a float-free EPIRB, the chances of detection and, therefore, survival would have been poor.''
Mr Crerar asked what the down side would be if he recommended the compulsory use of float-free EPIRBs.
Mr Venz said the maritime minister, who signed off regulations, would be mindful of the cost to the fishing industry, given an EPIRB cost between $800 and $1200.
Mr Crerar said he had heard from witnesses how some fishermen found life jackets restrictive, hot and uncomfortable to wear while working, but he thought it was a ''no-brainer'' at times of risk of drowning.
Maritime consultant Keith Ingram, of Auckland, said the wearing of inflatable life jackets by fishermen was voluntary, varied from crew to crew and ''comes down to a skipper's policy''.
Mr Ingram said the alarm would have been raised in minutes and searchers could have used the remaining hours of daylight if K-Cee had been carrying a float-free EPIRB.
Sergeant Todd Hollebon, of Te Anau, said a life raft and a life ring belonging to Governor were found several miles south of Yates Point.
Members of the New Zealand Police dive squad used a remotely operated vessel on September 26 and found the boat was intact in 50m of water and listing to port.
Royal New Zealand Navy and police divers inspected Governor on November 6.
''Police believe that the Governor sank after attempts were made to unhook a net which had become hooked up during a trawl,'' Sgt Hollebon said.
''No Mayday call was heard from the Governor. The EPIRB was not activated.
''It is unknown if they were wearing life jackets at the time.''
Mr Venz said the dive suggested Governor foundered while still attempting to extricate the net from the obstruction on the seabed. The throttle and gearbox indicated the boat was in full ahead at the time of foundering.
''While both vessels were required to carry manually activated EPIRBs, float-free EPIRBs could possibly have contributed to increasing the chances of recovery of the crews,'' Mr Venz said.
''The distinct advantage of a float-free EPIRB is that it does not require activation by the persons on the boat in the event of an emergency.''
The inquest continues today.
