KEY POINTS:
Passengers on a nightmarish Cook Strait ferry crossing last October were not in danger though they may have been fearing for their lives, vomiting uncontrollably and delayed 10 hours.
Maritime New Zealand has released its report on the October 24, 2006 sailing of the Interislander's Kaitaki ferry from Picton, saying the ship and crew handled the storm-force conditions well.
The Kaitaki was slammed by 70-knot winds and waves almost 10m high, but the ship's master and his crew were cool and professional throughout, the report found.
During part of the storm, the ship sheltered in Cloudy Bay, near the entrance to the Tory Channel.
The numerous letters from the ferry's 800 passengers sent to Maritime NZ were almost evenly split between complaint and commendation.
"Some families were severely traumatised by the passage and had doubts they would survive," the report said. "The master acted prudently by taking appropriate actions to ensure the safety of the vessel, passengers and crew. Whilst many of the passengers were sick, some acutely so, there were no serious harm injuries to any of the passengers and crew."
Below decks, one vehicle was damaged and a motorbike fell over.
Maritime NZ recommended the company check up on how secure the fittings were during rough weather and review procedures for keeping passengers updated.
- NZPA
