Inquiries & Recommendations

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Reviews Tranz Rail's high speed craft operation, and that of other operators of high speed craft in New Zealand, to ensure that they are complying with the relevant codes before a Permit to Operate is issued.

Include an article in the Seafood New Zealand magazine featuring this report, the intent of Maritime Rule Part 31C [Crewing and Watchkeeping - Fishing Vessels] together with its advisory circular and the work of the Maritime Safety Authority-convened FISHgroup and FishSAFE initiatives.

Most of the Fullers vessels operate in enclosed or inshore limits, and in areas frequently plied by other ferries and recreational vessels. In the past 10 years there have been a number of incidents and accidents involving passenger ferries in the Auckland area, and on almost every occasion the passengers have not needed to enter life-rafts. Instead they have been transferred to other vessels in the vicinity.

NRSS 5 (Occurrence Management) refers to the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) as if it only applies to a specific incident site and does not take into account that, for a larger or more complex emergency response, the incident command centre could be somewhere Page 32 | Report 09-103 else. NRSS 10 (Crisis Management), which is designed to work in parallel with NRSS 5, does not refer to the CIMS but refers to the civil defence model as being separate from the CIMS model, when instead it forms part of it.

Environment Southland manages navigational safety within the Fiordland region and is committed to undertaking and regulating marine operations for cruise ships within its area. The increasing frequency, scale and duration of cruise ship traffic through Fiordland will increase the risks. Milford Sound is not the only passage where blind pilotage can be a necessity.

Direct the Rescue Coordination Centre and New Zealand Police to work together to ensure that effective processes are in place that allow the Rescue Coordination Centre to coordinate maritime and/or aviation assets on behalf of Police when requested or deemed beneficial, fully utilising the strengths of both SAR coordinating authorities for efficient and well-coordinated search and rescue operations.

Urgently review the suitability of, and compliance with, procedures ensuring safe operation of multiple shunts between Wellington yard and the Ferry Terminal.

Liaise with the National Transportation Safety Board of USA and manufacturers of jet boat propulsion systems to explore the possibility of developing an alternative means of providing directional control for single-engine jet boats in the event of an engine failure.

Consider if a requirement exists for a fence/guard to be developed by the manufacturer, e.g. similar to that used to protect the elevators on the Pilatus Porter.

Include "established structures" in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making on assessment of new or altered structures that comprise overhead wires or cables, and to expedite the production of a draft final Civil Aviation Rule to the Minister.

Ensure only trained and certified staff are permitted to carry out field repairs / adjustments to the running gear of wagons authorised to run on high speed passenger trains, and that all such repairs are recorded.

Parachute-drop pilots can fly for many years without external validation of their parachuting related skills. The Commission recommends that the Director initiate a regular checking requirement to help ensure drop pilots remain skilled and current, similar to other commercial operators