MO-2001-208

On Thursday 7 June 2001 at about 2332, the passenger and freight ferry "Arahura", with 63 passengers and 68 crew on board, was approaching Wellington when a machinery space fire alarm that had been activated was being investigated. On opening the sliding watertight door to the machinery space the engineers were met by water pouring from the space at a height of about 1.6 m above the floor plates. The door was closed again and pumps started to pump the water overboard. Prior to the flooding being discovered the watchkeeping engineer had been pumping engine room bilges for some time. On inspection it was found that an incorrectly configured sea suction valve was not completely closed and had allowed sea water to be pumped into the space via a bilge water collection tank overflow pipe. There were no injuries to passengers or crew and the damage to machinery and electrical systems was moderate.

Safety issues identified included:

• parts of the training and familiarisation for engineer watchkeepers
• the manning level of the engine room
• some of the watchkeeping and alarm monitoring practices aboard the Arahura
• the incorrectly configured sea suction valve of which the crew had been aware for 18 years.

Safety recommendations were made to Tranz Rail Limited to address the safety issues.