Passengers on a ferry that crashed into Devonport wharf after the vessel suffered an apparent mechanical failure suffered suspected broken bones and one was knocked out, police say.
Sixteen passengers and a Fullers crew member were injured when the vessel struck the wharf late this morning, crunching its bow and knocking people out of seats.
Passengers on a ferry that crashed into Devonport wharf after the vessel suffered an apparent mechanical failure suffered suspected broken bones and one was knocked out, police say.
Sixteen passengers and a Fullers crew member were injured when the vessel struck the wharf late this morning, crunching its bow and knocking people out of seats.
Emergency services at the scene. Photo / Brad Ambrose
A St John Ambulance spokesman says six people were taken to North Shore Hospital with minor injuries and the other 11 to a Takapuna medical centre after assessment at the scene by medics.
That figure is higher than an earlier Fullers estimate that 12 of the 61 passengers on board the Kea and one of its three crew members were injured.
The ferry has meanwhile been "quarantined" for an investigation by maritime and transport investigators, who say it is too early to confirm early indications reported by police of mechanical failure.
Fullers chief executive Doug Hudson has in a statement said the company was sorry about the injuries and working closely with authorities to investigate the crash.
"Keeping people safe while they travel and work on our vessels is our number one priority and we are concerned and sorry that people have been hurt today," he said.
"Our thoughts and attention are with passengers and crew who have been injured or affected on our service between Auckland and Devonport."
Mr Hudson said Fullers would conduct its own investigation while also working with Maritime NZ to determine what happened.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has also opened an inquiry.
One passenger on the Kea's 11am sailing from Auckland to Devonport told the Herald about 10 minutes after the crash that most seats on board flew forward, bumping their occupants to the ground.
"There was a big crunch and all the seats went flying forward," said the passenger.
"It went hard to the right of where it normally goes and smashed into a part of the wharf opposite.
"One lady cracked her head and an ambulance has been called."
He said other passengers received bruises and cuts but the woman had blood streaming down her shirt from the back of her head, and was surrounded by people trying to staunch the wound.
Police at the Devonport ferry terminal. Photo / Brad Ambrose
The passenger, who did not want to be named and was luckily in one of the few seats he believed remained anchored in place, said the impact had taken a chunk out of the bow of the ferry.
Police said the ferry went to dock and appeared to have a "temporary loss of control due to a mechanical failure" and hit a concrete beam on the wharf. "You can see some damage there and just with momentum people inside were basically thrown all over the place," said Inspector Cornell Klussein.
"It was mechanical failure that affected the steering and they hit the wharf," he said.
"The injuries are all what we describe as status 3 and 4. They're not serious although there are possibly some broken bones. One woman was briefly knocked out."
Mr Klussein said the people on board were mostly tourists in their 60s.
He said the ferry was not going very fast when it crashed because it was about to dock.
"But just the fact that it was a heavy boat the momentum when it does hit comes to a sudden stop. Obviously fast enough to throw people off their feet," he said.
Police were assisting Maritime New Zealand and were appealing to anyone with footage of the crash to contact them.
