Former New Zealand Ports CEO Fined for Dockworker’s Death

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The former chief executive at New Zealand’s Port of Auckland has been fined NZ $190,000 for the death of a stevedore in 2020. It is the first time that a company's top leader has been convicted and sentenced for breaching safety duties in New Zealand.

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The sentencing of Tony Gibson stems from an August 2020 incident in which stevedore Pala’amo Kalati was crushed by a container at the port. The containership Constantinos P was docked in Auckland and discharging containers. Kalati, 31, and a colleague were working as lashers securing the containers to be lifted off the vessel. One lift went terribly wrong when two boxes were to be hoisted but a third was still partially attached. As they were hoisted, the third container fell loose, crashing down and killing Kalati.

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Gibson's conviction and his subsequent sentencing mark the first time an officer of a large company has been convicted of a breach of their duties for safety in New Zealand.

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“Gibson had the knowledge, influence, resources and opportunity to address safety gaps and ensure that appropriate systems were in place at the port, but failed to do so,” said Kirstie Hewlett, Maritime NZ director.

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Read More at gCaptain

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