Cruise ships banned from Tory Channel after rock hit
Cruise ships have been banned from the same route as ferries in the Marlborough Sounds following an incident being investigated by maritime authorities.
Earlier this year, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Azamara Quest struck Wheki Rock after entering Tory Channel with a Port Marlborough pilot on board.
The incident is being investigated by Maritime NZ and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, which have released urgent recommendations for cruise ships and pilots using the channel.
TAIC surface investigations manager Martin Harper said the inquiry into the Azamara Quest incident, which was still ongoing, had identified safety issues that needed to be addressed.
Current harbour risk assessments relied on the operating practices of Cook Strait ferry operators, however there were additional risks associated with cruise ships that should be considered separately, he said.
‘‘Given this, the commission recommends that the Marlborough District Council reviews its harbour risk assessment and considers additional risks posed by cruise ships using Tory Channel to access the port of Picton.’’
Harper said the council had responded positively to the recommendations, saying cruise ships would not be able to use the channel until significant and critical controls had been put in place.
Until these were established, cruise ships would have to enter Queen Charlotte Sound through the northern entrance.
Marlborough harbour master Alex van Wijngaarden, who is responsible for harbour safety, said a review of the risk assessment for the safe navigation of ships was under way when the Azamara Quest incident happened.
Immediately after the incident, he suspended all cruise ship transits through Tory Channel until risk controls could be reviewed and amended as necessary, including the introduction of some new controls.
‘‘We support the [TAIC] recommendations and agree that the precautions to be introduced are justified for larger cruise vessels,’’ Wijngaarden said.
‘‘Tory Channel, particularly near the heads, can be a very challenging stretch of water where conditions can change quickly.’’