MARICO Marine NZ Limited WELLINGTON HARBOUR PORT AND ...

Report No: 05NZ104 WELLINGTON HARBOUR
Issue: Issue 1.1 Operational Risk Assessment
At present, the primary purpose of the station is to provide information to
navigational users by provision of a weather and traffic service. This
function is undertaken in a purely advisory capacity and Communications
Officers are instructed by Operational Manual not to offer navigational or
other direction unless this is provided via the Harbourmaster or pilot.
Other functions of the Harbourmaster are also accessed through the station,
such as requests for Hot Work Permits31 or any other situation where a point
of contact is required between the Harbourmaster and navigational user, for
example to report an operational spill or incident. In the event of maritime
incidents within harbour limits, Beacon Hill is equipped to act as the initial
alerting station for relevant emergency services and to expedite
communication flow between these services as required.
11.1.2.2 Beacon Hill – Stakeholder Feedback
Beacon Hill featured strongly in stakeholder feedback and is highly valued
by all. Cook Strait RoRo ferry operations liaise closely with Beacon Hill and
the audit review of the harbour system suggested that all (some belatedly)
recognise a prudent decision was made to keep Beacon Hill operational when
most others in New Zealand were being dismantled. Out of this review and
risk assessment, Authors are convinced the role and profile of Beacon Hill
Signal Station is vital to Wellington Harbour.
In its role as harbour stakeholder, CentrePort has referenced shortcomings
in the technical equipment and the ability of watchkeepers to provide
assistance to pilots. It has been prepared to make its viewpoints and
recommendations for equipment and training improvements in writing32. A
worry was also expressed that measures were outstanding to address
limitations and the time taken to achieve agreement on this.
A strong conclusion by Authors from this risk assessment is that the future
role of Beacon Hill Signal Station needs to be defined, its equipment
improved, its skill base functionally described, trained and brought into the
21st Century. The capability of it role to assist pilots in poor visibility,
manage entry transit, recommend sequencing as well as providing the focus
of contact for those transiting towards Wellington will remain immature until
the future Safety Management System obtains stakeholder buy-in to its role
and necessary upgrade.
31 600 hotwork permits are issued annually
32 A letter of June, 2003 was referenced, which showed a changing attitude by CentrePort in favour of the value that
Beacon Hill could provide to the Harbour Safety Management System.
Greater Wellington Regional Council /
CentrePort Ltd Page 72 of 102