The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has found a charter fishing vessel that crashed into rocks in Foveaux Strait last year was overloaded with passengers.
The Torea was on a fishing trip close to Seal Rocks off Ruapuke Island on 24 August 2012 when it struck an uncharted rock as the skipper was increasing speed.
Torea began taking on water and the skipper made a distress call before beaching the vessel on Ruapuke Island to prevent it sinking.
The commission said Torea was permitted to carry 20 passengers, but 24 passengers and three crew were on board at the time.
The breach has since been addressed by the operator so the commission has not made any recommendations, but it said the incident has lessons for other skippers.
