MO-2001-214

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.