A marine farming company will pay fines and reparation totalling $266,000 over a collision in the Marlborough Sounds which killed two of its employees.
New Zealand King Salmon has admitted four charges brought by Maritime New Zealand in the Blenheim District Court.
Salmon farm manager Anton Perano and employee Troy Climo were returning from a salmon farm in June last year when their work boat crashed into a moored vessel in Waikawa Bay.
The two died instantly and four other workers were injured in the collision with a former naval patrol vessel.
Judge Tuohy said in court on Wednesday the company water taxi was speeding, doing 23 knots in a 5 knot area, and had no lookout.
He said the driver, Anton Perano, suffered a momentary lapse in concentration, having safely made the trip hundreds of times before.
The judge ordered reparation of $60,000 each to the deceased's families and $20,000 to the other victims.
He also fined the company $66,000.
King Salmon chief executive Paul Steere says the exact cause of the accident is a mystery.
He says the company has reviewed its safety procedures.
