Construction giant McConnell Dowell has admitted endangering the safety of employees working on an ocean sewage project during a storm which claimed two lives.
Christchurch District Court was told today it was decided to return the 11 employees, contractors and sub-contactors to shore when the storm broke in October last year.
But they had to be rescued when their barge, the Flexifloat, broke free from a tug, the Waiomana, and drifted dangerously towards the rocky headland.
The company today admitted failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees working on board a barge and operating the barge without a safe ship management certificate.
Judge Colin Doherty adjourned the case for sentencing on October 14.
Sara Jamieson, for Maritime New Zealand, said the 11 employees, contractors and subcontractors were working on the sewage project 3km out to sea from Christchurch.
It was decided that the Waiomana would tow the Flexifloat back to Diamond Harbour when weather conditions deteriorated about noon on October 28.
About 1.30pm, the vessels were off Godley Head but the Waiomana was struggling to maintain headway in the worsening conditions.
"The area off Godley Head was a known area of rough sea and presented a hazard in the forecasted weather conditions as outlined," she said.
At 1.35pm, the pushing arrangement between the tug and barge failed and the tug did not have an emergency tow rope to re-attach the barge.
The barge had no independent means of mechanical propulsion. It was drifting towards the rocky headland with 11 employees, contractors, and sub-contractors on board.
The boat did not have emergency anchoring, which could be dropped without mechanical power. Nor was there anyone on board who knew how to operate the main anchor because the only employee who knew the procedure had gone aboard the tug to help replace the gear after the first line failed.
There were a series of crew transfers between various vessels to enable to barge to be tugged back to Lyttelton.
The Sumner lifeboat was launched, and another tug brought the barge under control when it was 200m to 300m from the shore.
Heron Construction, a sub-contractor of McConnell Dowell, is facing similar charges to two employees who drowned on the same night as the barge got into trouble.
Jody Campbell and Tony Utteridge were returning to Lyttleton in a inflatable boat from the ocean outfall when it capsized in the storm throwing them into the water.
The case against Heron is due to be heard in Christchurch Dsitrict Court next week.
