Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
Auckland Council
Text
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.
Although passenger transfer is the more likely method for abandoning ship in the congested Hauraki Gulf, the crews do not practise transferring passengers from one vessel to another, nor do they practise bringing one vessel alongside another. The vessels in Fullers' fleet have subtly different heights of rubbing strips, and access and egress points. There would be merit in introducing this into the training schedule, and also merit in considering subtle design changes to better facilitate ship-to-ship passenger transfers.
On 16 December 2013 the Commission recommended to the Chief Executive of Auckland Council that he co-ordinates the ferry companies that operate large passenger ferries on the major Hauraki Gulf routes to adopt ferry design features and training programmes aimed at minimising the risk of a ship-to-ship transfer of passengers when the need arises to abandon a passenger ferry.
Although passenger transfer is the more likely method for abandoning ship in the congested Hauraki Gulf, the crews do not practise transferring passengers from one vessel to another, nor do they practise bringing one vessel alongside another. The vessels in Fullers' fleet have subtly different heights of rubbing strips, and access and egress points. There would be merit in introducing this into the training schedule, and also merit in considering subtle design changes to better facilitate ship-to-ship passenger transfers.
On 16 December 2013 the Commission recommended to the Chief Executive of Auckland Council that he co-ordinates the ferry companies that operate large passenger ferries on the major Hauraki Gulf routes to adopt ferry design features and training programmes aimed at minimising the risk of a ship-to-ship transfer of passengers when the need arises to abandon a passenger ferry.
Reply Text
In response to this recommendation, Auckland Council agrees to coordinate the ferry companies that operate large passenger ferries on the major Hauraki Gulf routes to adopt ferry design features and training programmes aimed at minimising the risk of a ship to ship transfer of passengers when the need arises to abandon a passenger ferry.
Whilst the Council will work with the ferry operators in this regard, the Council has limited regulatory power to require ferry owners to comply. Maritime New Zealand is the regulatory body who have the necessary power to compel commercial operators to adopt the required design features. Maritime New Zealand has existing Maritime Rules which prescribe the regulations concerning the construction of vessels and the training of crew members.
The large passenger ferries are of varying ages and designs and it may not be economically viable to redesign some members of the existing fleet; however thought regarding passenger transfer should be considered during the design of future new builds.
Auckland Council will undertake to implement the recommendation so far as it is able to do so by 30 June 2014.
Whilst the Council will work with the ferry operators in this regard, the Council has limited regulatory power to require ferry owners to comply. Maritime New Zealand is the regulatory body who have the necessary power to compel commercial operators to adopt the required design features. Maritime New Zealand has existing Maritime Rules which prescribe the regulations concerning the construction of vessels and the training of crew members.
The large passenger ferries are of varying ages and designs and it may not be economically viable to redesign some members of the existing fleet; however thought regarding passenger transfer should be considered during the design of future new builds.
Auckland Council will undertake to implement the recommendation so far as it is able to do so by 30 June 2014.
Related Investigation(s)