The national regulatory agency Maritime New Zealand has lifted the detention notice on the Aratere ferry, allowing it to return to service after it ran aground. The regulator has also addressed that according to preliminary enquiries “the incident was not due to a crew member leaving the bridge to make a coffee.”
Over the last two and a half weeks Maritime NZ has been engaging with KiwiRail on the grounding of the Aratere, seeking information from KiwiRail, its class society and undertaking an inspection.
The interisland ferry Aratere went aground at a position about 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) north of Picton in Titoko Bay. No injuries and no environmental issues were reported according to authorities.
The regulator reported on Saturday June 22 that the “Aratere” was undertaking a freight only voyage and had approximately 40 people on board.
“Earlier this week, we inspected the vessel, and observed it undertake several tests while at berth involving systems, processes and equipment. Off the back of these tests we have now lifted the detention notice, but imposed conditions on the operation of the vessel,” Maritime NZ director, Kirstie Hewlett said in an update last week.
These conditions allow the Aratere to return to service “through a graduated and controlled approach that enables further assurance by KiwiRail, any corrective and preventative measures are implemented, and the vessel is operating safely.”
“Initially, the conditions will allow crew and rail freight only (four return sailings), then trucks and their drivers, followed by a limited passenger service, and then full capacity sailings to be permitted. The full return to service is subject to KiwiRail demonstrating it has implemented its return to service plan, and no further issues have been identified,” the regulator Maritime NZ said.
The harbourmasters in Wellington and Marlborough have also placed conditions around pilotage for the Aratere’s exit and entry of the two harbours.
Maritime NZ inspectors would carry out a focused audit of the Interislander fleet and its training, risk management, and procedures in the coming weeks.
“Maritime NZ’s inspections and audits are a reflection of a point in time, and the operator, KiwiRail has the primary responsibility for day to day safe operation of the vessel, and its wider fleet,” Ms Hewlett noted.
A Maritime NZ investigation into the range of factors behind the Aratere’s grounding – which is separate from the detention notice and audit – is expected to take several months.
“While the cause of the grounding is yet to be formally determined, Maritime NZ’s preliminary enquiries have found that the incident was not due to a crew member leaving the bridge to make a coffee,” the Maritime NZ added in its update.
