Y2K: Ports may shut to forestall problems

By Darrel Mager and NZPA

The country's ports may close as 2000 ticks over in order to avoid collisions caused by millennium bug malfunctions.

The Maritime Safety Authority is checking New Year's Eve shipping movements with industry companies and port authorities to ensure computerised boating equipment is Year 2000 compliant and back-up systems are in place.

Its director, Russell Kilvington, said last night that navigational and steering systems in modern ships were computerised and if the authority could not be assured of a port's safety then shutting it for a few hours was a real option.

"The waters are going to be alive with all sorts of boats and pleasure craft on December 31 and the last thing we need is ships colliding because of a computer failure," he said.

Of particular concern were overseas ships, passenger ferries, gas carriers, oil tankers and cruise ships going between ports.

But Ports of Auckland, which controls the country's largest and busiest port, said shutting Waitemata Harbour on New Year's Eve was not an option.

A spokeswoman, Karren Beanland, said: "The mere suggestion of shutting down ports is pretty extremist. We're confident there will be no major problems."

She said a contingency programme would be in place for New Year's Eve and a port employee would be on board large incoming boats to help guide them in. They would also be flanked by tugs to ensure a safe berthing.

But Mr Kilvington said it was naive to believe that no potential problem existed and harbourmasters - who came under the control of regional councils - had the power to shut a harbour because of safety issues.

He said port authorities worldwide were checking their computer equipment compliance, and that of harbour users, following a directive from the International Maritime Organisation.

The International Chamber of Shipping said modern vessels relied on more than 100 embedded microchips to operate, and up to a third of the world's ships were believed to be non-Y2K compliant.

The Port of London has already decided to take no chances and will ban vessels over 40m that cannot prove Y2K compliance for two hours from 11 pm on December 31.

Any in its waters will be instructed to anchor in the Thames.