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150000 Dollar bond paid to allow crew members to sail

A $150,000 bond has been paid to allow the "Lake Triview" crew members to depart from Port Taranaki. Three Crew members, the ship's owner and operator have all been charged under the Resource Management Act that they most likely damaged the protected Waiwhakaiho Reef off New Plymouth as a result of the grounding of the vessel which dragged its anchor and went aground on the reef on May 25 where its hull was holed. On June 18, the master Rolando Legaspi, his chief officer, Romelito De Asis, and able seaman Mark Aldrin Galapo, who was the lookout on the night, were charged with disturbing the Waiwhakaiho Reef which was likely to have an adverse effect. The ship's owner, Tri View Canada, and operator, Fairmont Shipping Ltd Canada, were charged on June 20 with contravening the act by permitting the grounding of the vessel on the reef which is protected under the region's coastal plan. The owner and operator were charged with offences which carry maximum penalties of $600,000. The charges faced by the crew carried a maximum two-year jail sentence and $300,000 fines. In the morning of June 20 the three men appeared in the New Plymouth District Court. Andrew Laurenson, the lawyer representing all the defendants, said the ship's agent, Phoenix Shipping Agencies Ltd, offered $150,000 as a surety that the men would return to New Zealand for future court hearings. The Taranaki Regional Council, represented by Andrew Britton, did not want to restrain the vessel going about its business. Laurenson asked that the men be allowed to return to the ship which was due to leave at 6 p.m. Judge Geoffrey Ellis remanded the three crew to reappear in the New Plymouth District Court on Aug 7 following full disclosure. A plea would be expected at that time. However the judge said he did not have jurisdiction to hear the surety application. With that, a High Court judge, Justice Paul Heath, through a video link, heard the application and allowed the three men to leave New Zealand waters on condition the ship's agents posted the bank bond of $150,000 by 4 p.m. The investigation into the grounding and effects on the reef were continuing.

Captain facing more charges for not informing authorities

The captain and chief officer of the "Lake Triview" were facing more serious charges after their vessel was holed on the Waiwhakaiho Reef on May 24. The ship had suffered 12 holes in the hull resulting in water ingress. The captain failed to immediately inform the Maritime Safety Authority as required. Rolando Legaspi, a 63-year-old Filipino national, was charged and pleaded guilty to not informing Maritime Safety Authority of the grounding amd was fined $2000 plus court charges. The Taranaki Regional Council investigation which followed the incident has now resulted in both the captain and his chief officer Romelito De Asis being charged with four counts each under the Resource Management Act. The eight charges include contravention of section 12 and section 338 in that the two men's actions disturbed or damaged the seabed which was likely to have an adverse effect on the protected Waiwhakaiho Reef. The men had to appear in the New Plymouth District Court on June 20 when bail will be addressed. The cargo of soya meal which was to be offloaded at Port Taranaki. The ship remained detained at the port and would only be allowed to sail until repairs have been completed.

Master fined for failing to notify MNZ of grounding

Rolando Valmeo Legaspi, 63, the Philippine master of the "Lake Triview", was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court on June 10, 2014. He was fined $2000 (plus $130 court costs) after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to notify Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) that the vessel had grounded off New Plymouth after dragging anchor in May 24, 2014. MNZ laid the charge under s31 of the Maritime Transport Act which requires incidents to be reported to MNZ as soon as practicable. MNZ was not notified of the grounding until May 28. The incident posed a potential threat to the 21 crew, and could have had a serious impact on the environment, and yet no effort was made for some days to notify MNZ. Just after 11 a.m. on May 24, the "Lake Triview", carrying a cargo of soya bean meal, anchored approximately 2.1 nautical miles off the Port of New Plymouth. At around 5.30 p.m. the anchor began to drag and the vessel moved slowly towards the shore. When the movement was noticed, at around 8 p.m., the master ordered the anchor to be raised, but a mechanical failure prevented this from happening. The Port of New Plymouth was asked to put two tugs on standby, but these were not deployed, and at around 9.38 p.m. the vessel ran aground on a rocky reef in approximately seven metres of water. While the anchor was successfully retrieved, the vessel remained grounded for around five minutes until freed using its own engines. MNZ was subsequently advised by the harbourmaster that the anchor had dragged, and on May 26 sought details of the incident, but received no notification of the grounding. Details of the grounding were not received by MNZ until late in the evening of MAy 28. After the vessel had berthed on May 27, an inspection by divers identified approximately 12 breaches in the ballast tanks as a result of the grounding. No spill of oil was detected. The vessel was remaining detained in New Plymouth pending arrangements for repair of the damage. Photo: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2048362