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KiwiRail denies Aratere cover-up accusations

KiwiRail news
Image – interislander.co.nz.

KiwiRail has responded to claims by Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters that it concealed the true cause of the Aratere ferry’s grounding on 21 June.

Peters accused KiwiRail of withholding information about the incident, where the ferry, carrying 47 passengers, ran aground near Titoki Bay after a crew member mistakenly altered the course via the autopilot system.

KiwiRail’s Interislander operations general manager Duncan Roy refuted claims of a cover-up, telling state media the organisation is cooperating fully with ongoing investigations by Maritime New Zealand and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.

Labour Party transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere criticised Peters’ remarks as ‘unhelpful’, stressing the importance of the integrity and timeliness of the investigations.

A leaked Interislander safety bulletin revealed that the error allegedly resulted from an incorrect turn input on the autopilot, not a crew member leaving for a coffee break.

Maritime Consultant John Riding pointed out the longstanding safety protocol that ferries should be under manual control in the hazardous Marlborough Sounds, expressing disbelief that autopilot was used near Mabel Island. The Aratere, now under strict conditions from Maritime NZ and harbour masters, has been escorted to Wellington harbour, pending the outcome of the investigation.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Brownies comments on the nuts and bolts re the pylon debacle were deemed ‘unhelpful’ too
    How did that work out?

  2. Yes, the ‘adults’ need to ensure only ‘helpful’ people get to say stuff.

    Sounds like a cock up to me coffee break or no. “Autopilot on dude no worries! What was that you were telling me….?”

  3. NZ Crimes Act 1961

    92 Piracy

    (1) Every one who does any act amounting to piracy by the law of nations, whether that act is done within or outside New Zealand,—
    (a) shall upon conviction thereof be sentenced to imprisonment for life if, in committing piracy, he or she murders, attempts to murder, or does any act likely to endanger the life of any person:
    (b) is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years in any other case.

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