New Zealand harbourmaster ‘bullied’ into accepting bigger ferries, unpiloted through narrows, despite four incidents of drifting out of control, running aground and hitting harbour walls in less than two years!

In July 2024, The Post (New Zealand), reported: One mistakenly pressed button sent the 17,816-tonne Aratere ferry off-course – but crew on the bridge couldn’t wrestle back control from autopilot before running aground was inevitable, a leaked internal safety bulletin shows. It is understood that a key part of the investigation into the Interislander ferry’s grounding in the Marlborough Sounds on June 21 will be whether the bridge crew knew how to disengage the autopilot when using a recently-installed steering system. Sources have confirmed the investigation into the grounding will, in part, look into claims nobody in the bridge crew knew that … Continue reading New Zealand harbourmaster ‘bullied’ into accepting bigger ferries, unpiloted through narrows, despite four incidents of drifting out of control, running aground and hitting harbour walls in less than two years!

After two elderly New Zealand ferries drift out of control and Government cancels contract for new ones, it offers to pay for towing (away from rocks) next time

To read in full https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=New+Zealand To read in full https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=New+Zealand To read in full https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=New+Zealand From the New Zealand Herald today: The Government has announced $600,000 to investigate emergency towing options for Cook Strait which the maritime union says is an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff. There was no word in the Budget on what will replace Interislander’s cancelled mega ferries and Treasury says exiting the contract to build them is a fiscal risk. Last week the Herald revealed the Government was considering advice on improving emergency towing after two recent mayday calls. There is no emergency towing vessel on standby in New Zealand to help large ships in strife. Interislander’s … Continue reading After two elderly New Zealand ferries drift out of control and Government cancels contract for new ones, it offers to pay for towing (away from rocks) next time