The Queen Elizabeth berthing in Auckland this morning. Photo / Chris Keall
The Queen Elizabeth berthing in Auckland this morning. Photo / Chris Keall
Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye says public transport must take priority over cruise ships after several ferries were forced to circle round the inner harbour for a cruise ship to berth.
Kaye said the situation was unacceptable, saying Fullers needed to explain why some services were cancelled.
"It is my understanding the timetable information of when the cruise comes in is published well in advance by Ports of Auckland," she said.
Ferry commuters in Auckland are fuming because of delays caused by cruise ships berthing in the city.
One commuter told the Herald seven ferries were slowly circling the inner harbour this morning while the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship berthed at Princes Wharf.
"You are affecting the lives of thousands of commuters. We are late for our jobs, hospital appointments, childcare arrangements and other responsibilities because cruise ships are being prioritised over passenger ferries.
"There is no reason why the cruise ships can't be docking prior to 6am and not causing this disturbance to people's lives," said Barker, who called on the Harbourmaster to review the situation urgently.
Waiheke residents have taken to a local Facebook page to vent their anger.
One resident, Kev Applestone, said he had only just managed to make a flight to Gisborne for a clinic at Gisborne Hospital after a "after crazy Uber driver did his magic".
He used the down time to contact the Harbourmaster to say the delays were causing huge disruption, including to people like himself involved in essential services at hospital clinics in the regions.
"Arrival of cruise ships during busy commute seems to be a new thing. It also seems like very poor planning. Why can cruise ships not arrive before 6 or after 9," Applestone said.
Tania Anderson said her husband was waiting in the harbour with five ferries held up and saying "the ferries are dancing on the water".
Herald reporter Chris Keall was held up this morning, saying there was a line of ferries circling around because of another cruise ship jam.
Line up of ferries circling around and around, getting later and later, because of another cruise ship jam pic.twitter.com/Dvz9kmo5r7
An Auckland Transport spokesman said cruise ship movements may affect ferry services from time to time.
"Cruise ship arrivals and departures on Princes Wharf can affect the ability of ferries to operate in the ferry basin. Cruise ships anchored in the harbour or using Queens Wharf have minimal effect on ferry schedules."
He said Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton was out on the water this morning monitoring the effects of the cruise ships and tugs thruster on the manoeuvrability on his vessel and found the effect on his vessel to be negligible.
"There are no restrictions on ferries entering or leaving the ferry basin at any time. Ultimately the decision to enter or leave the ferry basin is the call of the master of a vessel," the AT spokesman said.
A Harbourmaster vessel (left) tries to wrangle a Fullers ferry into the gap between the Seabourn Encore and Pier 4 around 5pm yesterday. Photo / Chris Keall
He said due to the arrival of cruise ships this morning Fullers cancelled the 6.45am Auckland to Devonport ferry, the 7am Devonport to Auckland ferry and the 7.30am Waiheke to Auckland ferry.
A Fullers sailing from Hobsonville Pt, which had been scheduled to dock at 7am, was around 15 minutes late.
Pier-to-pier networking: Hobsonville Point commuters make up lost work time. Photo / Chris Keall
Fullers put out a notification yesterday on their MyFerry app alerting people to delays from two ferries berthing in the city this morning.
"Cruise ships are not allowed to enter the port between the hours of 07:30 to 09:00 hours and 16:30 to 18:00 hours daily [excluding Saturday and Sunday]," the AT spokesman said.
