MSA expects to hear more next week about ferry’s close call

The Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) expects more information next week about a Cook Strait ferry's close call which resulted in the vessel's master being suspended.

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

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

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

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

Today MSA spokesman Lindsay Sturt said Strait Shipping had said it had taken immediate steps to ensure such an incident did not happen again.

"We're quite satisfied with that. We expect them to come back to us again next week once they have investigated in a bit more detail, and give us further feedback," he said.

"But certainly at this stage we're satisfied that they're taking steps to make sure that the problem's been fixed and doesn't happen again."

The MSA was disappointed at the time taken to inform it of the incident, Mr Sturt said.

"It took about four days and we certainly were disappointed with that, and that's an issue we will be discussing further with them."

Once the 14-day suspension of the master was finished the MSA would have to decide whether he would be allowed back to run the vessel, or whether the suspension was extended or some other action taken.

The Santa Regina is the ferry involved in a collision with a pleasure boat in the Marlborough Sounds in May, which left a man dead.

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

- NZPA