A New Zealand court has fined ferry operator “KiwiRail” 400,000 New Zealand dollars (approximately 235,000 US dollars) for endangering passengers’ lives.
The ruling relates to an incident in June 2024, when the ferry “Aratere” ran aground after the crew activated the autopilot system too early while leaving the port.
An investigation by “Maritime NZ” concluded that the accident was not caused by a fault in the newly installed steering system, but by the crew’s lack of knowledge in operating it. Investigators found the company responsible for failing to properly train the crew and not allowing sufficient time for familiarisation with the new equipment.
After 25 years of service, the 184-meter “Aratere” ferry was taken out of operation in August last year and had previously been frequently affected by technical faults and engine failures. This is also not the first penalty imposed on “KiwiRail”; the operator was previously held responsible for a power outage on another ferry that endangered around 800 passengers. That incident was linked to delayed engine part replacements and inadequate maintenance.
The company currently continues its operations with two other vessels.
