Trailer unit goes overboard after breaking free on Bluebridge Straitsman ferry

Last updated 17:02, July 18 2016

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Jordan Matchitt
Passenger Jordan Matchitt's video of the trailer unit in the sea during a rough sailing of the Bluebridge's Straitsman ferry.
Passengers were screaming and vomiting on a Cook Strait ferry that lost a trailer unit overboard in rough conditions.
Maya Captijn, who was travelling with her husband and two young children, watched as the B-train, or two connected trailers, was thrown overboard from the Bluebridge Straitsman during the 8am sailing from Picton to Wellington.
"We saw the chains snap and then the truck and trailer started to slide. It hit the rail and then the trailer tipped over, taking the truck with it," she said.
The truck trailer in the water after tumbling off the Bluebridge ferry.
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The truck trailer in the water after tumbling off the Bluebridge ferry.
"It was quite scary, actually. My girls were panicking and crying. We were ordered back inside and not allowed to go back out."
Strait Shipping general manager commercial Ed Menzies confirmed a B-train consisting of two refrigerated trailer units carrying chilled goods came off the Straitsman ferry at about 10.30am.KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ
Bluebridge ferry passenger talks about the shock of witnessing a trailer unit going overboard during a wild Cook Strait crossing.
Also lost was the ship's tug unit, which was attached to the trailers. This is the mini-truck which tows the units on board, and is valued at about $300,000.
The trailer, owned by freight company TNL, was carrying chilled pork.
Maritime NZ was making preliminary enquiries into the incident. "It is likely that the trailers have sunk – but a coastal navigation warning has been issued for an area approximately 7.5km south of Island Bay, warning of the potential for semi-submerged debris," a spokesman said. 
Passengers saw the trailer smash through the railing and go overboard.
KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ
Passengers saw the trailer smash through the railing and go overboard.
"This will remain in place for 48 hours. We don't anticipate any environmental issues – but any pork found on the shore should not be consumed." 
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TNL declined to comment.
Menzies said the unit had been storm lashed, and it was unclear how it had come free. "We have launched an investigation immediately."
TVNZ
This Wellington man had quite a descriptive account of what happened when a b-train unit went overboard into the Cook Strait on Monday morning.
Olaf Croeger, from Germany, saw it all unfold.
"We got into rough water. Suddenly the ship leant to one side, the left-hand [port] side. I heard the chains crashing, the chains connected to the lorry.
"I saw the lorry leaping towards the end of the ship and smashing through the railing." 
Damage to the Straitsman ferry could be seen on its arrival in Wellington on Monday.
KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ
Damage to the Straitsman ferry could be seen on its arrival in Wellington on Monday.
People began to scream as the trailers went overboard. "There was this dreadful pounding noise, I heard screaming.
"Everyone was trying to see what was going on. It only took a few seconds to the lorry to leave the ship.
"It was a bit of a shock."
Jordan Matchitt, who managed to film the containers floating out to sea, said the incident happened within seconds.  
"I was shocked. They were pretty big waves. It was a big crash, and the wind was strong.
"It would have been 20 to 30 seconds max before it was in the water." 
Another passenger said it was "a very rough crossing" and the truck was seen going over the side of the ship as it neared Wellington about 10.30am on Monday.
"Just as we were approaching the heads near Wellington there was a huge roll. A lot of people had been outside vomiting because the trip had been so rough.
"After the ship rolled there was a lot of screaming and then everyone was ordered inside.
"Someone said something about 'overboard'. I thought a passenger must have gone over, but then they said it was a large truck carrying containers. It had come free and smashed through the railings before going overboard."
He said all passengers had been ordered indoors and told to remain in their seats. 
Menzies said the ferry had been operating "well within normal sailing conditions" and "we've not had something like this happen before". 
It was unclear exactly what had caused the trailer to break free, but it was understood it occurred after the ship was hit by a large wave.  
"The company's investigation will cover all aspects of the incident, including company procedures and systems as well as the B-train and its cargo.
"We've never experienced an incident of this nature before – in 25 years of operation – so we are looking closely at all aspects of this event to determine what happened and why."
Strait Shipping was insured, he said. "However, our main focus is on the cause of this incident and ensuring that it does not happen again."
Monday afternoon's sailings of the Straitsman were cancelled, with passengers and freight transferred to other services. The company hoped to have the ferry back on schedule on Tuesday.
MetService meteorologist Peter Little said there had been southerly gales through the strait, with waves about 4.5 metres.
The occasional wave was reaching 7.5m, he said. Such large swells were not unheard of in the strait.
"It does happen from time to time. It is not that unusual a few times a year to see those sorts of waves." 
Pauline Barratt, a maritime lawyer from Fee Langstone, said an insurance agency would most likely pay the trailer owner's claim, and could seek costs from the ferry company.
"I would expect the ferry company liability to be capped at $2000 as that is what the [Carriage of Goods] Act does. It makes carriers liable for anything that goes wrong, but it limits it to $2000. 
"The trucking company might potentially have some liability to the owners of the cargo they were carrying, but that depends on the contractual arrangements they have."
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission said it was not going to look into the incident, as it did not meet its criteria for an inquiry. 
The Interislander was still operating as usual on Monday.  
In 1995 two cars went overboard and five more were damaged when the Interislander ferry Aratika was hit by a rogue wave while crossing the Strait.

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