University boat hits wharf

A Otago University research boat will be undergoing repairs today after it crashed into a wharf at Bluff yesterday.

The Polaris II was deemed unseaworthy after it hit the concrete wharf, splitting the wooden hull.

Polaris skipper Bill Dickson said he had pulled away from the boat's berth about 4am and was passing another wharf when he left the steering wheel unattended to turn on floodlights.

While he was away the boat veered towards the wharf and by the time he got back to the wheel it was too late to stop the Polaris striking the concrete on the boat's starboard side.

"I did notice it (the boat) had come around but I thought I was far enough away – I was just a bit spaced really. It all happened a bit faster than I thought it would," Mr Dickson said.

The boat, which cruises on the open water about 9 knots, was travelling about 6 or 7 knots when it struck the wharf, he said.

The boat was lifted from the water after the accident, which Mr Dickson described as a "cockup".

Otago University department head of marine science Gary Wilson said the boat was scheduled to head to Fiordland to do research work.

The accident had been reported to Maritime New Zealand and Mr Wilson was not sure how long the boat would be out of the water. The cost of the damage was unknown.

South Port chief executive Mark O'Connor said the boat had done minimal damage to the wharf and the incident would be dealt with by Maritime New Zealand.