‘Didn't know what they didn't know': Aratere crew on ill-fated vessel

Friday, 1 November 2024

The commission found the crew didn't know how to turn off the autopilot on a new steering system, but said the actions of those on board prevented a much more serious incident. Stuff's Laura Frykberg reports.

Key parts of the Aratere grounding came down to what crew “didn’t know they didn’t know” but a union boss says one of the issues was reported elsewhere.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission on Thursday issued its interim report into the Aratere beaching in June. Its full and final report is expected to be months off.

Key to the grounding was a new steering system installed in the ship which could not be disengaged after a button was pushed 36 seconds past a way point, meaning the autopilot clicked on to a later way point and thought it was time to turn right.

Instead, under autopilot, the 17,816-tonne vessel turned beachwards 1.28 nautical miles early, and for two minutes and six seconds crew were unable to wrestle back of the ship from autopilot.

Tracking data from the Aratere shows on the red line the route it should have taken. The faint dotted white line shows the route it became set on before it hit land.

When they did, it was too late and the ship was just seconds from land.

TAIC chief accident investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam said crew “did not know they didn't know” about two crucial aspects of forcing an override the autopilot: Rudder controls under the new Kronsberg steering system had to align within two degrees and the force takeover button had to be held down for five seconds.

Merchant Service Guild vice-President Iain MacLeod said the issue of aligning the rudders was “known” and had happened on other vessels. The crew on the bridge were “highly trained and appropriately certified”, he said.

The TAIC interim report said the bridge team were “not aware” of the two checks for override, but Kozhuppakalam and chief commissioner David Clarke said questions about how much, if any, training the crew had in the new system would come out in its final report.

The Aratere after it hit land near Picton in June.

They would not say if crew reported being untrained in the new system.

All facts known to the commission were included in the report. That report included no mention of a bridge member going for a coffee run before the incident began, as suggested by coalition partner NZ First on social media. NZ First did correctly say crew did not know how to turn off autopilot.

Troy Stade, a union lawyer representing the ferry’s bridge crew, previously “categorically” ruled out any suggestion of beverages being involved in the incident.

TAIC chief commissioner David Clarke, left, and chief accident investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam at the report’s release on Thursday.

The new Kronsberg steering control system was installed in May and the ship had been back in service for just over three weeks when the grounding happened. It made 83 Cook Strait crossings in that time.

On the night of the grounding, it left Picton at 9.19pm. The crucial turn happened shortly after the ship passed Mabel Island.

After the ship was on its course towards the coast, bridge crew tried three separate times to wrestle back control from different consoles but, without the crucial override information, were unsuccessful.

The ship was travelling at 13 knots and slowed to seven knots within 10 metres of water. The crew managed, with the help of bow thrusters, managed to slow the ship to three knots by the time of the grounding.

TAIC said this was significant in making sure the incident was not more serious.

The Aratere was later pulled free with some damage. But its hull was not compromised and it was soon able to return to service.

Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said the ferry line was implementing an array of changes, notably in change and contractor management, “to ensure the successful future integration of new systems on its ferries”.