Poor welding caused cargo ship rudder to break near Tauranga
Thursday 24 July 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story Transport Accident Investigation Commission
A Transport Accident Investigation Commission report found that weak, porous welds caused the Achilles Bulker to lose its rudder in July 2023. The vessel drifted towards shallow water while leaving the Port of Tauranga, but the crew prevented grounding by deploying the anchor with only one metre of water under the keel.