A leaked document from New Zealand ferry operator, Interislander claimed that the ropax ’Aratere’ ran aground after the crew pressed a wrong button, engaged the autopilot and sent the ship off course, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.
An Interislander safety bulletin reportedly said that the crew mistakenly pressed the ‘execute’ button on the autopilot and did not regain control before it was too late.
‘Aratere’ left Picton, New Zealand at 21.45 pm on 21st June, to cross the Marlborough Strait, which separates South Island and North Island, before suffering a reported steering failure and running aground shortly after.
Following her refloating, she was berthed at Picton’s Waimahara Wharf where she was detained by Maritime New Zealand. The detention was lifted on 10th July, allowing the ferry to return to service.
An internal document, which was sent to Masters and deck officers on 5th July, showed the vessel’s autopilot was engaged as it passed Mabel Island, off Picton.
The bridge crew noticed the ship taking a wrong turn and tried to regain control, which meant there was ‘about a minute’ before the crew could change the propulsion system’s direction and save the ship from running aground, the report allegedly said.
“The bridge team noticed the ship’s [sudden turn] … and correctly tried to put the steering back into hand steering mode but were unsuccessful in taking control. Around a minute passed before … astern propulsion was utilised, however, it was too late and the vessel ran aground in Titoki Bay,” the document read, according to the media outlet.
“The following preliminary causation is what’s known at this point in the investigation process. While the process is under way and a more holistic picture of events is consolidated, it’s unlikely the following causes will change significantly,” it said.
It was understood claims that none of the crew knew how to override the autopilot would make up part of the investigation into the incident. The crew did not know they needed to press the button for five seconds to turn off the autopilot, it was alleged.
“The accidental and early operation of the execute button on the starboard multipilot commenced a chain of events, which led to the grounding. The reasons why recovery of controls that should have corrected this unplanned deviation were unsuccessful is part of the ongoing investigation and more information about this will be shared at a later date,” the document said.
Interislander Executive General Manager, Duncan Roy said the safety bulletin was sent out to make sure crews across the ferry fleet knew about the incident, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Roy said: “It [the bulletin] is designed to quickly ensure crew awareness across the fleet after a serious incident, with what is known at the time. It does not replace the three full investigations (KiwiRail, Maritime NZ and [Transport Accident Investigation Commission] TAIC) into the grounding incident that are underway.”
‘Aratere’s’ autopilot system was not new and has been operating since 2007, he confirmed.
“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,” he added.
For two and a half weeks during the ropax detention, Maritime NZ confirmed it was in talks with KiwiRail to seek information from the vessel’s operator, its class society and undertaking an inspection.
“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.
These conditions allowed 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 allowed for crew and rail freight only crossings (four return sailings), then trucks and their drivers, followed by a limited passenger service, and then full capacity sailings were allowed.
The Wellington and Marlborough Harbour Masters have also placed conditions around pilotage for the ’Aratere’s’ arrivals and sailings at the two harbours.
In the coming weeks, Maritime NZ inspectors will undertake an audit on the Interislander fleet, to look at its processes, procedures, training, risk management, as well as investigating how it brings on new equipment and familiarises its personnel.
“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,” Hewlett explained.
The investigation into the cause of the grounding is separate from the detention notice and audit, Maritime NZ stressed and will focus on exploring the broad range of factors that caused the vessel to go aground and will take several months.
KiwiRail has claimed the “regulated number of qualified people” were on the ship’s bridge on the night of the grounding.
