The Interislander incompetence
Georgina Campbell reports:
The Government’s position on the mega ferries was reinforced this week after Marlborough Harbourmaster Jake Oliver set limits for the maximum size of new vessels using Tory Channel to access ports at Picton and Shakespeare Bay.
The entrance to Tory Channel is narrow and tidal, making it challenging to navigate. The risk of an incident occurring increases with longer vessels.
The direction sets a maximum ship length of 187 metres. A variation to these rules will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only when safety is not compromised.
The mega ferries would have been nearly 40 metres longer and at least five metres wider than the ships in the existing Interislander fleet.
Oliver confirmed KiwiRail had previously approached the harbourmaster’s office regarding the proposed introduction of the mega ferries into Tory Channel.
“KiwiRail had engaged with the previous and current harbourmasters and commenced work to determine whether the proposed ferries would have been permitted to transit Tory Channel.
“KiwiRail had not been given a confirmation as to whether the ferries would or would not be permitted to operate in Tory Channel.”
In other words, KiwiRail ordered the mega ferries in 2021 with no confirmation the ships could use Tory Channel, meaning they would have to take what’s known as the scenic route instead.
This is staggering. Kiwirail committed to expenditure of up to $3 billion on a ferry project without even knowing if they would be allowed to use the Tory Channel.
The problem goes back to Labour’s insistence that the new ferries must be so large that trains can roll on and off them (as opposed to transferring their freight to them). This meant they had to get larger ferries, This then meant they needed to redevelop both ports. This also meant they would be too large to use the Tory Channel.
It is worth remembering that we also have the Bluebridge operating over Cook Strait. They do eight crossings a day and it doesn’t cost taxpayers one cent.