Ferry out of action for several weeks after Gulf fire

4.00pm

Maritime inspectors are today investigating a fire on a ferry which resulted in more than 300 passengers being evacuated yesterday.

The Fullers ferry Superflyte is likely to be out of action for several weeks after the blaze, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, damaged the engine room and controls as the vessel was sailing from Waiheke Island to Auckland.

After the fire was spotted and extinguished, the ferry continued briefly under its own power but the controls were affected, forcing the skipper to transfer the 311 passengers to other ferries which arrived within eight minutes of the emergency being declared.

The ferry was brought back to Auckland and sealed as the Maritime Safety Authority was due to begin an inquiry today. The MSA also ordered the crew not to release details about the fire.

Fullers general manager Mike Fitchett said today it could be several weeks before the ferry was repaired and restored to service.

He said the fire initially broke out in the engine room but the fire affected wiring to the controls and it would be a large and expensive job to repair.

"You have to strip all the wiring, you can't just cut out the burnt bit. You have to take the whole lot out. It's a huge job."

Mr Fitchett said he anticipated the repairs would be covered by insurance and the company's insurers would be told today.

He said there were no visible signs of a fire.

"It is locked off and sealed and nobody is allowed to go on board until the inspectors have had a look."

Mr Fitchett said the Maritime Safety Authority would also talk to passengers and a final report could be at least a month or so away.

Repairs could take at least two months, he said.

He said he was very happy with the response of other ferries and emergency services.

Another company ferry, Seaflyte was on the scene within eight minutes.

"It is part of our organised plan. We have a catastrophe plan for these sorts of things. Fortunately we don't get the opportunity to put them into effect. This one went really well with a textbook evacuation and rescue," he said.

He said the MSA, Fuller and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission would investigate the fire independently and company would follow any recommendations that came out of the probe.

"There is going to be a lot of inquiries. The Fire Service may do theirs as well," Mr Fitchett said.

The company's ferries carried four million passengers a year.

The Superflyte, built in 1995 was licenced to carry 600 passengers. It was built to an international class and met all international safety standards.

"She is up there with the best of technology and specifications of the world," Mr Fitchett said.

One young passenger hurt his leg as the ferry was evacuated but ambulance offices reported no serious injuries.

Aimee Sargent, 19, from Auckland's North Shore, said smoke billowed from an engine room on the lower deck as they waited to board the three other Fullers boats, which arrived within eight minutes.

The alarm sounded as the ferry passed Motuihe Island and within a short time passengers were told in an intercom announcement there was a fire aboard and they should all don lifejackets.

Six coastguard vessels also raced to the ferry to stand by but they were not needed.

Ms Sargent said the fire was frightening and smoke thick on the lower deck where she stood.

A lot of people were finding it hard to breathe.

People on the deck were jostling to get to the front of queues waiting to board rescue boats.

Everyone was pushing their way through, she said.

Another passenger, Richard Melville, said after the evacuation that apart from some upset children, the atmosphere was calm.

The crew deserved praise for their response, he said.

"They went about their business in an orderly manner."

- NZPA