Ferry passengers not in danger, owner says

Losing rudder control on the interisland ferry Aratere in Wellington Harbour last night did not endanger its passengers or crew, the vessel's owner, Toll Shipping, said today.

However, the Maritime Union says it is considering industrial action over the latest in a long list of incidents involving the problem-plagued ferry, detained in Picton today by the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA).

Toll general manager Paul Garaty said today the vessel's crew reported to the company it was having steering problems in Wellington Harbour about 8.50pm yesterday.

Toll's duty manager then called the MSA at 9.13pm to report the incident, Mr Garaty told National Radio.

The MSA has said the company did not report the incident immediately last night.

Mr Garaty said Aratere completed a 360 degree turn in the harbour entrance as a matter of procedure after stopping to check the rudder.

"The vessel did not do a 360 degree turn as a consequence of the rudder problem," he said.

He said he disputed MSA director Russell Kilvington's claim today that the authority had directed that the Aratere should not sail to Picton last night.

"I'm interested to find out the MSA's version of events."

Mr Garaty said Toll and MSA were meeting to discuss the incident today.

The vessel was being examined in Picton, but Toll believed it was fit to sail, he said.

"At no stage were the passengers or any of the crew of the vessel in danger," Mr Garaty said.

"The vessel was in deep water and there were no other vessels in the vicinity."

After reporting the incident, the Aratere berthed in Wellington and the rudder was tested and found to be working.

Mr Garaty said it was then due to sail with cargo only and Toll decided to let it leave for Picton.

Mr Kilvington said today the MSA had advised the company it should voluntarily withdraw the vessel from service.

Whether the company received that advice before sailing would be a matter for an MSA investigation, he said.

Mr Kilvington confirmed a detention certificate would hold the ferry at Picton until the MSA was fully satisfied about what went wrong and convinced it would not recur.

Meanwhile, Wellington branch president of the Maritime Union's seafarers section Mike Shakespeare said today he had not ruled out taking industrial action over problems on the ferry.

"We will have to talk and work out a response, as we are not happy our people and passengers are being put at risk," he said.

"We are disappointed that this has happened. It seems to be never-ending and I don't know how Toll will handle it," he said.

Mr Shakespeare said the rudder problem was the latest in a long line of incidents.

"An unsafe vessel is a major worry and it is up to the Maritime Safety Authority to sort it out," he said.

- NZPA