OLIVIA

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

TAIC investigation underway into boiler explosion

An investigation was being underway into an explosion on the 'Olivia' in Bluff that has seen a bulk carrier placed under a partial protection order by transport investigators, temporarily preventing it from leaving New Zealand. Three crew members were injured in the incident on the morning of May 24. Four fire trucks had responded to the alert, which was received shortly after 3 .a.m, and assisted ambulance crews with getting the injured off the ship. Hato Hone St John transported the injured crew members to Southland Hospital in Invercargill, two in serious condition and one in a moderate condition. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) was investigating the incident as a serious marine casualty as required under international maritime regulations- The ship will be unable to leave port until the investigation is finished. The order gave TAIC the power to protect and restrict access, and to require people provide papers, documents, records or other items, including voyage and engine data, recording equipment, the boiler and boiler system, and videos and photos taken by the crew. While it did not apply to the entire ship, apart from from urgent safety actions, obeying the order meant the crew cannot operate the boiler system, voyage data system, effectively marooning the ship at the South Port. The three investigators deployed on MAy 25 included experts in ship control and command, engineering and digital data extraction and analysis. The team conducted interviews and collected physical and digital evidence, and wrapped up the on-site investigation on May 28. Different lines of inquiry will be followed over the next few months, with work in later stages - particularly during analysis - potentially requiring further evidence collection. The investigation would determine the broader circumstances and cause, but TAIC investigations did not ascribe blame or liability. The TAIC investigations can take two years or longer to complete. Report with photos: https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360707271/investigation-bluff-boat-explosion-may-see-carrier-untouched-years

Explosion injured three crew members

On May 24t, 2025, at 3.15 a.m. LT, an explosion and flashback occurred in the engine room of the 'Olivia', which was docked at Berth 11 of the South Port in Bluff. Three crew members were injured. They had been working on a boiler in the engine room at that time. They were provided with medical attention immediately. A small fire was extinguished by the crew before the arrival of the Fire and Emergency NZ with two crews from Bluff and Invercargill. Also the St. John Ambulance responded with one rapid response unit and two ambulances. Its team assessed and treated the three crew members, one of whom was was a moderate condition and the other two in a serious condition They were taken to the Southland hospital. The vessel had arrived in the port on April 22 en route from Bintulu, and was loading a cargo of logs with an ETD as of May 29. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) launched an investigation into the incident. and started collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to determine the cause and circumstances of the explosion. Report with photo: https://maritime-executive.com/article/three-injured-in-boiler-explosion-on-bulker-in-new-zealand

Sold

Sold to undisclosed buyers for $7.4 mill (Note: she was again reported sold back in April for $7.1 mill)