Cook Strait ferry mistakenly sent on beach crash course

Wednesday, 10 July 2024

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.

An internal Interislander safety bulletin was sent to masters and deck officers on July 5 showing that as the ferry passed Mabel Island, off Picton, autopilot was engaged.

But an “execute button” was accidentally pressed, causing the ship to veer off-course one nautical mile before it was meant to make a turn.

The bridge team noticed the ship’s wrong turn – which would soon see it grounding on a beach – and tried to regain control but were initially unsuccessful.

This meant there was “about a minute” before astern propulsion could be activated, slowing the ship.

“However, it was too late and the vessel ran aground in Titoki Bay,” the bulletin says.

This was revealed the same day Maritime New Zealand lifted the detention notice on the Aratere ferry, meaning it can now return to service.

Sources have confirmed the investigation into the grounding will, in part, look into claims nobody in the bridge crew knew that to override the new autopilot a button had to be held down for five seconds.

The leaked memo said the accidental early operation of the execute button “commenced a chain of events which led to the grounding”, but the reasons why the crew could not immediately take back control would be part of the grounding investigation.

As a result, Interislander is taking a number of measures including reviewing buttons “that single activation of could directly control vessels movements or other key control systems”.

Autopilot use was at the captain’s discretion but it was best avoided in circumstances such as berthing, in high traffic, or bad visibility, it said.

In a statement, Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said the safety bulletin was designed to “quickly ensure crew awareness across the fleet after a serious incident, with what is known at the time”.

It did not replace the three full investigations (KiwiRail, Maritime NZ and Transport Accident Investigation Commission) into the grounding incident that were under way, he said.

“Aratere’s autopilot system is not new and has been operating since 2007. It is important that we understand all of the factors involved in the incident, including the underlying causes. A fair and thorough investigation process is crucial for all parties and is being followed,” Roy said.

NZ Merchant Service Guild Vice-President Iain McLeod said the bridge was crewed by experienced staff and fully within regulations.

“Now the investigation includes the staff interface with the technology of the newly-fitted steering system on the 180-metre passenger and freight ferry,” he said.

Government coalition party New Zealand First on Tuesday posted on social media, asking if it was true the Interislander ferry had autopilot on while someone went for a coffee, “then couldn’t turn the autopilot off in time when that someone came back…?”

But Troy Stade, a union lawyer representing the ferry’s bridge crew, on Wednesday “categorically” ruled out any suggestion any beverages were involved in the incident.

The NZ First post was “completely inappropriate” – given it came from a party in government and because it spread unfounded rumours while there were official investigations into the grounding.

Marlborough harbourmaster Jake Oliver confirmed the Aratere was allowed to have autopilot activated at the point it lost steering and grounded.

Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said there was a regulated number of qualified people who needed to be on the ship’s bridge at all times.

“We meet this without exception – including on the night of the grounding. As formal investigations are ongoing, we will not be making further comment.”

In the coming weeks, Maritime NZ Inspectors will also undertake a focused audit on the Interislander fleet. This will look at its processes, procedures, training, risk management as well as looking at how it brings on new equipment and familiarises its personnel.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown provided a statement saying only he “looked forward” to the outcome of the official investigations.