Ferry staff resisting alcohol and drug crackdown, report says

The Arahura tackling stormy seas in June. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The staff of one of the ferries which cross Cook Strait are refusing to support a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs, a report released by Maritime New Zealand has claimed.

International expert Captain Robin Plant said there was apparent union resistance on the Arahura to the policy, which is the norm in countries including Britain.

Capt Plant was called in by Maritime NZ to write the report after mechanical troubles, near misses and collisions, and even the death of a skipper, in incidents involving some of the seven ferries on the route.

He made 24 recommendations on improving operations, which were released today.

In the report, Capt Plant said both Cook Strait operators Strait Shipping and the Interislander had the same policy on zero tolerance of alcohol and drugs.

"However one vessel, (Interislander) Arahura, stands in isolation to this in that the policy has not been fully implemented due apparently to union resistance," he said.

"It is understood that union delegates on that ship are opposed to the policy and especially to any form of testing."

He said there should be no exception, and random drug and alcohol testing on ferries should be considered.

The Maritime Union today declined to make any comment on the report or the current drug and alcohol policy for crew on the Arahura.

Maritime NZ director Russell Kilvington today said there were no Arahura incidents attributed to alcohol or drugs.

"We haven't had any occurrences that we can directly track of people acting due to excess alcohol or drugs but of course we don't have a testing regime to be able to categorically verify that," he said.

Mr Kilvington said Capt Plant's recommendation of random testing of ferry staff was not covered by the Maritime Transport Act.

The Ministry of Transport was investigating such measures across sea and other transport industries.

"I personally believe it should be subject to legislative support so that company schemes, which currently do exist, can be backed up if necessary by the law," Mr Kilvington said.

- NZPA