Maritime Union statement on Port Otago straddle accident

The Mar­itime Union says a strad­dle acci­dent at Port Chalmers on Wednes­day 1 July involved one of its mem­bers.

The man was tak­en to Dunedin Hos­pi­tal fol­low­ing the crash that occurred around 1.15pm at Port Ota­go.

Mar­itime Union of New Zealand Nation­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood says the union will be fol­low­ing the inves­ti­ga­tion close­ly and sup­port­ing the mem­ber and his fam­i­ly.

He says ongo­ing acci­dents in ports through­out New Zealand were a con­cern.

Mr Fleet­wood says this rein­forces the Mar­itime Union’s call for an indus­try wide health and safe­ty inquiry look­ing at all steve­dor­ing oper­a­tions in New Zealand, includ­ing both cur­rent oper­a­tors and new oper­a­tors.

No fur­ther com­ment will be made by the Union at the present time.