Auckland ferry incidents: Worker overboard, falls and trips among accidents, injuries

Friday, 3 January 2020

An incident involving a ferry crew member who fell two metres to the cabin floor after a panel collapsed was among 70 reported in the past three years.

The crew member on a Pine Harbour ferry, operated by Sealink, was clearing foggy windows on the bridge in 'slowly worsening' weather on May 23, 2018, when he lost balance and fell forward.

The panel he put his weight on to prevent him from falling was only secured with six, small, short screws from the top down and was unable to hold his weight, causing him to fall through. His right hand and hip took the brunt of the fall.

Despite first aid and a compression bandage being applied to his hand, along with ice and keeping it raised in the hours after, he took the next day off to seek medical advice.

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Data released to Stuff showed the incident was among 28 others reported to Auckland Transport (AT) between July 2016 and June 2019 on ferries which were part of the public transport system.

The master of Fullers ferry Kea left two people injured when they became distracted and veered off course, colliding with a timber pile (file photo).

From 2016 to 30 November, 2019, ACC paid out more than $2 million dollars for ferry-related injuries.

In the past three years, patronage on these ferries was about 1.43 million.

One female ferry passenger fell out of their wheelchair on the gangway due to 'low tide and the unsteadiness of the vessel'.

Other reported incidents revealed ferries had collided with other vessels, such as a cruise ship and moored yacht, along with piers and wharves, as well as suffering double engine failure and running out of fuel.

In one collision, the master of a Kea Fullers ferry was leaving the Downtown Ferry Terminal on January 21, 2019, when they became distracted and veered off course.

A crew member on a Pine Harbour ferry was clearing foggy windows on the bridge when they fell through a panel to the cabin floor (file photo).

The ferry hit a timber pile, leaving two people injured. Maritime New Zealand is still investigating the incident.

In another collision on September 4, 2017, the master of a Fullers ferry travelling to Beach Haven was unable to gain control of the vessel when transferring controls.

Another master on board who was undergoing training yelled down the cabin for passengers to brace themselves.

The ferry hit a fender pile, suffering significant damage and leaving one passenger injured with a graze.

Other incidents included a woman falling out of her wheelchair in a gangway due to 'low tide and the unsteadiness of the vessel', a dropped barrier breaking an AT staff member's toenail in two, and a crew member falling overboard removing night lines from a Kea ferry.

During the same period, AT also received 37 reports of 'unsafe behaviour/condition' and four 'near hits'.

This included one incident on June 13, 2018, where two ferries were in 'close quarters' and stopped within 100 metres of each other.

In Stanley Bay, children were wharf jumping while a Belaire Ferries vessel was arriving and leaving on March 5, 2017.

They jumped on to the ferry, ran across it and leapt off the other side as crew tried to tie lines.

Wearing stilettos on the ramp of a Pine Harbour ferry was also classed as an incident of unsafe behaviour, as the shoes constantly got caught between the gaps.

It was 'only a matter of time' before someone tripped or fell.

ACC data showed the most common injuries were to the back/spine, knee, ankle, upper and lower arm and shoulder.

These included soft tissue injuries, lacerations/punctures/stings and fractures or dislocations.

From 2016 to November 30, 2019, ACC received 568 new claims for injuries on Auckland ferries.

Both Auckland Transport (AT) and Maritime New Zealand said safety on ferries was taken 'very seriously'.

AT said it encouraged operators to report all incidents so it could manage any risks or concerns.

In the past three years, 11 incidents were reported to Maritime New Zealand about Devonport and Waiheke services, which included a crew member tripping over a milk crate on the deck and sustaining a fracture in 2017.

Other incidents included ferries colliding with marine equipment, one after a near miss with another ferry.

Neil Rowarth, from Maritime New Zealand, said its focus was on ensuring ships operated safely to prevent accidents and incidents, reducing the risk of injury to passengers and crew.

Rowarth said the authority could also impose conditions, issue warnings, detain vessels, prohibit operations, suspend and revoke operating licences or certificates and could prosecute.

In May 2017, Fullers was ordered to pay $130,000 and pleaded guilty to health and safety failures after at least 19 passengers were injured in a collision with Devonport's Victoria Wharf in February 2015.

It was also charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act for an incident in November 17 after a bumpy Kea ferry docking hospitalised a woman for a week and left her living with a severe head injury. Sentencing has been reserved until March.