smithy09 50 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Just heard on the news that a local ferry has not arrived in Seatoun, and they have pretty strong winds on the harbour at the moment. I would guess that is an Eastbourne ferry?? Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 From Stuff: Emergency crews are rushing to assist Wellington's Eastbourne Ferry, which has broken down off Worser Bay. The ferry was only about 100m from land and had been packed with school children, who were now being brought to shore. Police said around 40 passengers were believed to be on board. Fire rescue, ambulances, and maritime police are heading to the scene, but the condition of the ferry is unknown. Reports say the ferry is in trouble about 100 metres off Worser Bay Yacht Club. Link to post Share on other sites
splashprincess 17 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 New Police launch went past the club here at great rate of knots. Conditions here are 30 gusting 40 knots and rain. Haven't heard anything more as yet. Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Yes it was blowing hard coming around the waterfront this morning. The photos on stuff show the ferry well down by the bow. they are saying now it was swamped by a large wave that broke windows. Passenger washed overboard, all ok tho thank goodness. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4721432 ... gton-ferry Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Pretty big chop on the harbour this morning too. And it's dark at the moment... Link to post Share on other sites
w44vi 17 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 It got a big wave over the front that smashed the front windows, so it took on quite a bit of water, there was a school group on board but everyone is off safely Link to post Share on other sites
grant 40 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 from what i understand "washed overboard" might be a bit of artistic licence, but someone did end up in the water and was recovered. the ferry is now pumped out and on the mooring in Scorching bay waiting for the weather to improve, about 1500 according to the met service Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 It was escorted back to town by the Police Launch about 4 pm. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4721432/Passengers-rescued-off-Wellington-ferry "...The ferry is now tied up in Worser Bay and is listing to the front." Pretty sure that isn't possible. Listing is sideways deflection from vertical, isn't it? Pitching perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites
grant 40 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 "down by the head" maybe? you can't expect too much from reporters. On the news they stated, with the ferry very visible in the background, "the ferry has now sunk" Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Yeah and the person washed overboard was actually a person that paniced and jumped overboard. It was ruff, but not that ruff. I also was surprised to not see bilge pumps pumping out water. Not saying that wasn't happening, but I did expect pumps being able to cope with that kind of thing happening. The question I reckon MNZ should be asking is not whether it should have been operating in the conidtions, but is it capable of handling the conditions as normal operation. I also thought it a bit tuff that the operator said that the Skipper has the say in whether the boat should operate or not.But I bet if a Skipper said no I am not going, the Boss would have had something else to say in relation to his job. Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 but I did expect pumps being able to cope with that kind of thing happening. Probably find that the suctions in all the bilges were aft and being down by the head the suctions might not have been of much use. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 According to Dom Post this AM it took on 4000 litres of water, so a bit of work for pumps even if they were able to work at the angle shown in the pictures. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 4000ltrs?? so did the skipper not turn it around so the nose wasn't head into the conditions??? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Wheels regardless of whether the owner/operator of the ferry business was right to hang his/her skipper out is moot as maritime law means that the master is responsible for the safety pax, crew and vessel. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Yep absolutely understand that. But still, I bet it would be tuff to say to the Boss we ain't going when the Boss has said they have operated many times in far worse. Maybe he is a good operator and would have said, "yep I respect that decision" but with these Water Taxi/Ferry operations struggling so much these days, it would be surprising. Link to post Share on other sites
grant 40 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 4000ltrs?? so did the skipper not turn it around so the nose wasn't head into the conditions??? he was actually going down wind when it happened.... which suggests to me the bows went a loooong way down to get that sort of water over the foredeck Link to post Share on other sites
grant 40 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Yep absolutely understand that. But still, I bet it would be tuff to say to the Boss we ain't going when the Boss has said they have operated many times in far worse. Maybe he is a good operator and would have said, "yep I respect that decision" but with these Water Taxi/Ferry operations struggling so much these days, it would be surprising. understand what you are saying wheels but knowing the person in question he's pretty reasonable about dealing with cancellations. Wellington weather can do that to you Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 That's nice to know. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 In all my years running other people's boats I have never been pressured to sail at all if I decided it was unsafe to. The times where I have sailed in dodgy circumstances were always when it was my own boat. Go figure!! Older and wiser now but watch this space for a cyclone season dash to Vanuatu. Link to post Share on other sites
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