Flotilla protest planned against Interislander

Angry Marlborough Sounds residents are planning a large-scale protest flotilla to ensure the new Interislander ferry keeps to the legal speed limit.

A spokesman for the Guardians of the Sounds lobby group, Peter Beech, said the Kaitaki, owned and operated by Toll Holdings, was deliberately flouting the 15-knot speed limit set in Tory Channel, damaging the environment and posing a danger to the public.

"We are sick and tired of being bullied and blackmailed by this bloody company," he said.

Yesterday, Toll said it would limit the speed on its ferries to 18 knots through Tory Channel.

But Mr Beech pointed out this was still over the legal limit set by Marlborough District Council. "It just shows the bloody arrogance of them," he said. The protest is planned for next Saturday.

Meanwhile, a Marlborough Sounds resident who staged a one-man protest flotilla in front of the Kaitaki last Friday has been summoned to appear before the Maritime Safety Authority today.

The man, who piloted a hired runabout in the ferry's path, was protesting against what he claimed was the excessive speed of the new ferry, which residents claim has been causing two metre waves.

Maritime New Zealand (MSA) spokeswoman Heidi Brook said no charges had been laid in relation to Friday's incident in which police and coast guards were called to intervene.

"We need to interview him to find out exactly what happened and whether there was a breach of the Maritime Safety Act," she said.

"Obviously we do not like small boats crossing in front of a very large ferry."

Mr Beech would not say how many boats were expected to take part in the protest fleet on September 24, but said it was likely to be "the biggest maritime protest since the anti-nuclear flotillas in Auckland during the 1980s".

"We don't want to stop the ferry or inconvenience it in any way -- we just want them to observe the rules," he said.

The group, which had about 500 members, would be working with police, the harbour master, and the MSA to ensure the protest ran smoothly.

While other ferries have been able to travel at 20 knots through the sounds, the Marlborough District Council set the speed limit for new ferries, such as the Kaitaki, at 15 knots.

The Environment Court will next week hear Marlborough District Council's proposed Variation 3, which would mean large ships wanting to travel at more than 15 knots in the Sounds would have to apply for resource consent.

Toll's spokeswoman, Sue Foley, said the company preferred not to comment further ahead of the court hearing. "This is not just an issue for Toll, it affects all shipping operators," she said.

New Zealand Shipping Federation manager Paul Nicholas said there was a need to balance environment concerns with the fact that the Marlborough Sounds was a national transportation route.

- NZPA