Minor defects found on All Occasion Cruises fleet following woman’s death on boat

Officials investigating the death of a woman found slumped in a toilet cubicle on a Sydney Harbour party boat have found defects in other vessels in the company’s fleet, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

• No dangerous fumes detected on fatal party boat: HAZMAT

Officials investigating the death of a woman found slumped in a toilet cubicle on a Sydney Harbour party boat have found defects in other vessels in the company’s fleet.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) checks of All Occasion Cruises’ fleet included the boats’ sewage disposal systems.

The Telegraph understands minor defects were found on some vessels.

The inspections came three days after mother-of-two Shalina Hussein, 39, collapsed aboard the company’s Lady Rose during a birthday cruise on Saturday.

The woman collapsed aboard Lady Rose on Saturday. Picture: 7 News

Minor defects were found on some of the vessels of All Occasion Cruises.

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The Berowra Heights woman was found slumped over the sink about 40 minutes after she was last seen by friends. Paramedics were unable to revive her.

RMS executive director Angus Mitchell said the vessels at Blackwattle Bay Marina underwent “pollution and safety compliance” checks on Tuesday.

“These inspections were carried out under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act, 1997 and included checks of sewage disposal,” Mr Mitchell said.

Sewage systems are known to produce hydrogen sulfide, the toxic chemical police confirmed was “in excess of safe operating levels” in the hours after Ms Hussein was found.

Guests who were on board the boat embrace after the incident. Picture: Damian Shaw

All Occasion Cruises, which is owned by Joe Elias, the brother for former footballer Benny Elias, said they would co-operate with investigators.

“Our priority is to help investigators to provide them with all the information they need. We do not believe it is at all appropriate to speculate. There is an ongoing investigation,” a spokeswoman said.

Hydrogen sulfide has an offensive rotten egg smell and is linked to three deaths on cruiser in the US in 2005 and a NSW Paper Mill last year.

Emissions can be caused by decaying organic matter, such as that found in sewerage systems and in industries like breweries and food processing, as well as some motor exhaust fumes.

Australian Maritime Services Authority (AMSA) investigators have been combing over Lady Rose, trying to determine whether regulations governing commercial boats had been breached.

A report on the death is being prepared for the coroner.