MARICO Marine NZ Limited WELLINGTON HARBOUR PORT AND ...

Report No: 05NZ104 WELLINGTON HARBOUR
Issue: Issue 1.1 Operational Risk Assessment
High Speed Craft passenger operations across the Cook Strait recently
ceased due to economics. It is uncertain whether or not these will resume;
advice suggests this will not be in the reasonably foreseeable future.
4.5.1 Pilot Exempt (PEC) traffic
Cook Strait Ferry operations account for about 8900 PEC movements. In
2004-2005 there were also approximately 140 PEC cement carrier transits
and 50 fishing vessels with PEC status. Cement carriers range from about
2,500–6,000GT, or up to approximately 120 metres length, while fishing
vessels are usually around 40–50 metres length, with a maximum of 80
metres length. The NIWA research vessel TANGAROA is a Norwegian trawler
design with a length or around 80 metres. This visits about 12 times a year
for crew changes or lay over.
4.5.2 Timetabled RoRo Movements and Risk
Ferry operators arrange timetables according to their perceived operational
needs and there is no planned staggering of departure/arrival times to avoid
congestion on any part of the harbour. Heavy weather and berthing delays
and vessels at differing steaming speeds, frequently results in 2 or 3 ferries
transiting the harbour at the same time. Passing and overtaking is also
common. Freight ferries from different operators are time tabled to leave at
the same time each morning, meaning that one is likely to overtake the other
at some point in the harbour. Close quarters situations have occurred at
alter-course waypoints including the joining area on the leading line and
within the enclosed harbour area as well, most frequently, but not
exclusively, between ferries.
Where a heavy southerly swell is present in the entrance channel, or a vessel
is deep draught, then in practice a pilot arranges movements for the sole use
of the leading line by inter-ship negotiation, Beacon Hill taking an observing
role. In effect it should be an implicit Harbourmaster decision through
Beacon Hill Signal Station to grant a vessel sole use of the leading line,
allowing Beacon Hill to take a wider co-ordinating role in the interests of all
traffic. This is a useful example of the ability of Beacon Hill Signal Station
could contribute further to traffic management through the harbour
entrance, with appropriate training of operators. In the last operating year
there were approximately 70 transits by vessels of 10 metres draught or
more, or less than 1% of all piloted movements. At present, unless the
privilege of navigating as a vessel ‘Constrained by Draught’ is being exercised
there are no restrictions on passing within harbour limits.
Greater Wellington Regional Council /
CentrePort Ltd Page 22 of 102