Maritime seek details of ferry close-call

The Maritime Safety Authority expects more information this week about a Cook Strait ferry's close call that resulted in the captain being suspended.

The incident happened when the Bluebridge ferry Santa Regina was leaving Tory Channel about 8.10pm on June 9.

It took a course that led it perilously close to grounding on rocks off East Head, said authority director Russell Kilvington.

The incident was "belatedly" brought to the authority's attention on June 13 and the master was served with his suspension the next day.

The authority has met Bluebridge operator Strait Shipping to seek a full explanation of the incident.

Authority spokesman Lindsay Sturt said at the weekend that Strait Shipping had said it had taken steps to ensure such an incident did not happen again.

He said the authority was disappointed at the time taken to inform it of the incident.

Once the 14-day suspension of the master was finished, the authority would have to decide whether to allow him to run the vessel, whether to extend the stand-down or take some other action.

Last month, the Santa Regina and a pleasure boat collided in the Marlborough Sounds, killing a man.

Friday's announcement of the June 9 incident followed the release on Thursday of a damning authority report on Bluebridge's competitor, Toll Shipping, regarding a near-grounding in the Tory Channel last September, followed two days later by the Aratere's cutting across the bow of another ship in Wellington.

- NZPA