Historic ferry taken for a ride

By BOB COTTON

A marine drama at Lyttelton ended early today when the Canterbury coastguard boarded and recovered an historic ferry taken at the port overnight.

Inspector Warren Kemp of the Southern Police Communication Centre said that police received a call from the owner of the 97-year-old ferry Onawe about 1 am.

It was reported that the vessel had been unlawfully converted and had taken off toward Lyttelton Headswith four people on board.

Coastguard Canterbury marine controller Del Hurley said the coastguard rescue vessel located the unlit ferry by radar in the main shipping channel about 2km from the Lyttelton Heads, and boarded it.

"We sent three rather large people aboard and took charge of the vessel," said Mr Hurley.

The Coastguard crew brought the vessel back in time for its scheduled ferry sailings. No damage had been done to it, said Mr Hurley.

Mr Kemp said that one man was arrested and would appear in court charged charged with unlawfully converting vessel.

A Christchurch police spokesman later said that the man had been given bail and would appear in court on Friday.

Mr Kemp said marine authorities would also be investigating the man's actions.

- CHRISTCHURCH STAR

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