The MMIF Presents: Kevin Judkins on "The grounding and salvage of the container ship RENA" and AGM
Kevin Judkins was born in Akaroa (NZ) and attended Rodney College (Wellsford). He joined the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand as an indentured apprentice in 1977, attending both Wellington & Auckland Maritime colleges. He obtained his Second Mates Foreign Going Certificate in 1980, and his Masters ticket in 1988.
His early career was spent on product & crude tankers, before branching into the offshore industry. He has worked on numerous construction and maintenance projects for most oil majors on Dive Support Vessel’s in the Persian Gulf and Australasia. Prior to the Rena salvage, he was Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) on the Dynamic Positioned FPSO Crystal Ocean, operating in Bass Strait.
Kevin joined the GO Canopus (Anchor Handling Supply Tug) as Chief Officer in 2011, being promoted to Master in 2012. He spent 4 months around Astrolabe reef on the Rena salvage, where the GO Canopus played an essential role during the primary phase of the Rena salvage operation.
Kevin is the author of the book 120 Days at Astrolabe: The Rena, the Reef & the Go Canopus (2016) – Inder Publishing. He has published numerous articles in the Professional Skipper Magazine and co-authored an article for the European Journal of Internation Law.
Later in his career he worked on semi-submersible drilling rigs, eventually retiring from the sea in 2024. He is currently assisting with technical details of the two replacement Cook Strait ferries and associated shore infrastructure.
The grounding and salvage of the container ship RENA
Until eclipsed by the Costa Concordia the following year, the five hundred million (NZ) dollar cost of the Rena salvage was the most expensive in maritime history.
Prior to this event, New Zealand had never had to handle the stark reality of a large container ship hard aground in its pristine maritime environment. Tens of thousands of tonnes of ship, containers and cargo came to a complete stop in half a ship’s length.
The grounding on Astrolabe Reef in the early hours of 5th October 2011, was the result of an unremarkable accumulation of errors and misjudgments, borne out of perceived commercial pressure and poor seamanship.
Contrary to numerous conspiracy theories and theorists, the grounding was neither a deliberate “Insurance job”, nor an alcohol impaired laissez-faire act of extreme indifference.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission report summarised the cause as a simple matter of "failing to keep a safe navigational watch." It was a failure of the most fundamental of navigational watch keeping principles.
A tier 3 oil spill response was initiated that morning and plans enacted to rescue her crew, remove the bunker fuel and salvage the vessel along with her cargo.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
The AGM will also be held immediatly prior to Kevin's presentation.
Click Here to particpate Online or Click Here to register to attend in person. In respect to the AGM you can find a Notice of AGM & Nomination form and a Proxy form.
