Executive summary
On Friday, 14 September 2001, at about 0325, 2 trans Cook Strait ships, the passenger and freight ferry "Arahura" and the cargo ship "Kent", encountered each other at the eastern entrance to Tory Channel. The outward-bound "Kent" had given the inward-bound "Arahura" permission to enter, in order that they might pass each other inside the entrance. The master of the "Kent" subsequently had difficulty maintaining control at slow speed and ventured into the area of restricted navigation at the entrance to Tory Channel, which hindered the safe navigation of the "Arahura". While neither ship sustained any damage nor were there any injuries, the potential existed for a collision or grounding that could have resulted in substantial damage or large numbers of injuries or fatalities.
Safety issues identified included:
• adherence to the advice contained in the New Zealand Pilot book
• the standard of bridge resource management on both ships
• the standard of passage planning and monitoring on both ships
• the robustness of the system for managing traffic transiting Tory Channel entrance
Safety recommendations were made to the Chief Executive Officer at Marlborough District Council, the operators of each ship and the Director of Maritime Safety, to address the safety issues.
Related Recommendations
Conduct a risk assessment of navigation in confined waters and upgrade the passage plans to make use of techniques such as monitored turns and critical decision points and foster the use of good bridge resource management to implement and monitor the passage plans
Investigate and carry out a cost benefit analysis on any requirement that New Zealand ships carry an Automatic Identification System. In carrying out this analysis due regard shall be had to the mandatory requirements promulgated by the International Maritime Organization for SOLAS ships
Require that all ships of over 500 GRT, that are not fitted with a voyage data recorder, that use the Marlborough Sounds on a regular basis be fitted with an automatic location communicator
Conduct a risk assessment of navigation in confined waters, and upgrade the passage plans to make use of techniques such as monitored turns and critical decision points, and foster the use of good bridge resource management to implement and monitor the passage plans
Mandate and enforce a traffic management system for vessels transiting Tory Channel that is unambiguous and takes account of the different types and speeds of vessels typically using the passage. When designing the system, consider defining the area of restricted navigation, determine when the inward-bound vessel is clear of the entrance and make the reporting points near the entry to the zone at each end