This morning a truck reportedly broke free from the Bluebridge Straitsman Ferry at the entrance to Wellington harbour and crashed through the ship’s railings, falling overboard.
According to Stuff, a passenger on board the 8 am sailing from Picton to Wellington says it was “a very rough crossing” and the truck was seen going over the side of the ship as it neared Wellington at about 10.30am.
“Just as we were approaching the Heads near Wellington there was a huge roll,” says the man who told Stuff he wished to remain unnamed.
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,” he says.
According to MetService, there had been southerly gales through the strait with waves about 4.5metres, “with the odd one of 7.5 metres”.
“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,” the man continued to say.
Maritime NZ told Stuff it had staff on the site now and were talking to the skipper and crew to ascertain what had occurred.
