Alcohol involved in ferry-launch crash

The launch was sucked under the ferry, but the two boaties suffered only minor injuries. Photo / Natalie Slade

Authorities are considering what role alcohol played in a collision between a motor launch and a Fullers ferry in Auckland at the weekend.

The maritime police unit says alcohol was involved in the crash and Auckland City police confirmed they carried out a breath test on the two men from the launch.

Fullers says the ferry's master and engineer were also breath-tested, but were cleared.

The 34m Fullers Quickcat ran over the 7.5m motor launch near Bean Rock last Saturday. The launch was sucked underneath the ferry, which was on its way to Waiheke Island.

The two boaties were rescued by the Fullers crew and treated for minor injuries in Auckland City Hospital.

Max Campbell, one of the survivors from the launch, said he would not provide any information on the collision until after the investigation.

"I am alive, but I am not giving any statement until the marine inspectors have finished their investigation."

When asked if he had been drinking before the collision, he replied: "I have no comment on anything."

Police spokesman Noreen Hegarty would not release the results of the breath tests because she said it was not a police investigation. "It is [Maritime New Zealand's] investigation and we were only acting on their behalf."

Mrs Hegarty said there was no law against operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and "all people breath-tested that night were voluntarily doing so".

Fullers confirmed that the police had breath-tested the boaties and the ferry's master and engineer.

"This is the standard procedure in an incident of this kind and we can confirm the Fullers crew tested negatively," said the company's marketing and communications manager, Lucy Farrington.

Maritime NZ safety research chief Michael Peters said there was no legal limit to how much alcohol could be consumed while boating