Protest flotilla to put the brakes on ferry

Protest organiser Peter Beech says the flotilla has been created out of anger and frustration in the Sounds. Picture / Simon Baker

Up to 100 boats will take to the Marlborough Sounds today to try to slow down a ferry that residents say is putting lives at risk and damaging their picturesque coastline.

The protest flotilla is also aimed at drawing attention to the cause of residents who say they are fed up with the Toll Shipping-operated ferry Kaitaki breaking the 15-knot speed limit imposed on it and creating waves up to 2m high.

Already they can claim a small success: Toll has agreed the Kaitaki will today reduce its speed to 15 knots, from 18 knots, in light of the protest.

But the shipping industry says there is a much bigger issue: a 15-knot limit on ships in the Sounds puts the country's whole transportation network at risk.

Protest organiser and resident Peter Beech said the flotilla had been created out of anger and frustration that had built up in the Sounds.

"We know from long experience that any ship that exceeds 15 knots in the Sounds is going to strip away sand and undermine banks and have an adverse effect on the ecology, as well as pose a threat to the wellbeing and safety of people."

Mr Beech takes children on eco-tours in his boat, the Tutanekai, and he worries what a series of waves created by the ferries could do.

"It could turn this boat into kindling wood, but the chances are it could gravely threaten the safety of all of the children on board."

Toll says the issue is not just about it, but many companies who rely on the Cook Strait crossing.

"I think the key thing is there are a lot of authorities keeping a very close eye on everything we are doing ... and they would appear to be quite happy with what we are doing," said Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley.

New Zealand Shipping Federation manager Paul Nicholas said the 15-knot limit, if enforced, would have the effect of cutting carrying capacities by a third.

"It is going to create a bottleneck in the national transportation of freight for the North and South Islands. There has got to be some sort of balance between the environment and the national transportation route," Mr Nicholas said.

While the issue will be fought on the water today, it is also being contested in the courts.

The Environment Court in Blenheim is hearing a challenge by shipping companies against the 15-knot limit imposed by the Marlborough District Council on new vessels over 500 tonnes.

Toll argues the council does not have a scientific basis for the speed limit and such a restriction will cost it up to $31 million and will have a $12 million impact on freight operators.

Residents will get their chance to speak at the court hearing next month.

Mr Beech said he had seen all of the court processes before. He hoped 100 craft would take to the water today to make their point more directly to Toll.

Between 70 and 80 ships had signed up by the middle of the week.

The plan is for a line of about a dozen vessels to travel ahead of the ferry, from Tory Channel to Picton Harbour, to try to force it to keep to 15 knots.

"All of the boats in that part of the flotilla have been carefully selected. They are high-speed craft with reliable skippers," Mr Beech said.

The rest of the flotilla will be waiting near Picton Harbour and will join up with the faster craft before entering the inner harbour as the Kaitaki is reversing into its berth.

Police are urging people to exercise common sense during the protest and an exclusion zone will be put in place around the ferry.

Mr Beech said the residents had been encouraged by the attitude of police.

"They said they respected our right to protest."

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

* Under Marlborough District Council restrictions, new ships can travel no faster than 15 knots in the Sounds, unless they comply with a wave height rule.

* Ferry operator Toll NZ is appealing in the Environment Court against the restrictions.

* Residents say that if the rules are relaxed, ferry wakes will damage the shoreline and put lives at risk.

* The shipping industry says slower speeds mean fewer trips and higher costs.

* Toll's new ferry, the Kaitaki, has been travelling at 18 knots, but the company says it will reduce that to 15 knots today.