MARICO Marine NZ Limited WELLINGTON HARBOUR PORT AND ...

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Report No: 05NZ104 WELLINGTON HARBOUR Issue: Issue 1.1 Operational Risk Assessment initial approach position simple, particularly for a foreigner. This system does however rely on Beacon Hill monitoring of the vessel to ensure it does not commence transit inbound on the leads in an inadvisable attempt to meet the pilot vessel. Weather and sea conditions at the outer areas can be extremely adverse during gale or storm southerly events. Conditions may be hazardous for transit of the pilot launch through the entrance, where the sea state may be worse than at the boarding area due to the sea floor rising and the effect of wind against tide. The heavy swell and steep seas at the entrance on an ebb tide may preclude the launch transiting he entrance. 14 Vessels are directed to a Pilot Boarding Area by the Pilot through the Beacon Hill communications centre. The role of Beacon Hill is limited to that of a communications facility, although when a vessel is being led into the Delta boarding area, a request may be made for Beacon Hill to monitor a vessel’s progress and advise of excursion from the line of the leads. The Outer Boarding Areas are usually clear of the area used by pilot exempt and smaller vessels approaching the entrance inbound, as the Bylaws require vessels to join the leads at least two miles off. In practice vessels join at no more than two miles off, except in the case of adverse southerly weather, where vessels are more likely to join further out even as far as five miles. Use of the Alpha boarding location can pose a situation where an inbound vessel has manoeuvred to offer a lee for the transfer and will then join the leads within two miles of the entrance with potential for conflict with other traffic transiting the area. As reported instances of conflict are low and given that at least one of the vessels is under pilot control with support from Beacon Hill, this was not seen as a significant problem in the risk assessment. 8.3.2 Inner Area ‘Delta’ As introduced in section 5.2, conditions at the entrance and outer boarding areas can be difficult in gales, especially southerly, conditions. These are not uncommon for Wellington (recalling that the weather is from the south approximately 25% of the time and that there are 284 days a year where wind speed exceeds 24 knots). Embarkation takes place at Delta, the inner 14 This area, in gale southerly conditions, saw the foundering and breakup of the police launch LADY ELIZABETH II in 1986. Greater Wellington Regional Council / CentrePort Ltd Page 53 of 102
Report No: 05NZ104 WELLINGTON HARBOUR Issue: Issue 1.1 Operational Risk Assessment boarding area, where a pilot transfer or transit to Alpha, Bravo or Charlie boarding locations is considered unsafe in the prevailing conditions. A CentrePort Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) exists for leading vessels in to the Delta boarding location. Embarkation at this is estimated to occur 5-10% of the time by pilots, which would translate to no more than 75 embarkations a year, using the movement records for July 2004-July 2005. Use of Delta is far more common however for disembarkation of pilots in any weather condition where the pilot and master jointly consider it appropriate and safe for the vessel to proceed past this point without the pilot on board. Such a common practice should be treated with caution as there are many instances of incidents worldwide where a pilot has departed a vessel prematurely, even with the vessel on the leads. A confused master will also remain on the leads outbound, when they may be needed for a vessel inbound. Recommendations are made in the risk control section to involve Beacon Hill more in the disembarkation decision-making and interfacing, as well as procedural tightening up and training. 8.4 PASSAGE PLANNING The Wellington passage planning system is comprehensive and well thought out, providing planning guidance on a single piece of paper. It is also universally in use and has buy-in commitment from all involved. Masters interviewed referenced its informative nature and provision of clear advice. This is attached as Annex C. 8.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE PRESENT PILOTAGE JURISDICTION At present there is little preventing an inbound vessel transiting inbound to Wellington, negotiating the entrance and requesting a pilot whilst approaching the Delta boarding position. In practice this may never happen, because of Beacon Hill and VHF communication with the vessel (although communication with some crews can be difficult). The system presently makes regulatory requirement for pilots to be on board after passing one of the greatest hazards – the entrance itself! Pilotage is the jurisdiction of MNZ and recommendations are made for change out of this risk assessment. Maritime Rule Part 90 and the design of the pilotage limit and jurisdiction presently facilitates the use of Delta boarding area when boarding outside is not considered feasible, by leading of vessels in appropriate circumstances. Although it can be argued the system is working at present, as pilots are Greater Wellington Regional Council / CentrePort Ltd Page 54 of 102
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