Problems with the bow doors of the Interislander ferry Kaitaki struggling to open in Wellington last Friday night delayed the exit of truck drivers, passengers and freight for more than two hours.
The cancellation of its return sailing to Picton saw the Arahura being overloaded.
An inquiry into why the Arahura left its Wellington berth on Friday night bound for Picton with too many passengers on board will now be carried out by Maritime New Zealand.
The Arahura has a maximum capacity of 350 passengers when laden with four train lines of rail freight onboard or 550 onboard passengers with two lines of rail freight.
According to The Marlborough Express, Arahura left its Wellington berth with more than 440 people reported on board and four train lines of freight.
Interislander spokesperson David Miller says once the caption became aware of the excess loading he immediately returned. Two lines of rail freight were removed before the ferry resumed its service to Picton with the 440 passengers on board later that evening.
Kaitaki’s Friday night and Saturday morning return crossing between Picton and Wellington were cancelled meaning that additional passengers and freight had to be shifted on to Arahura and Aratere sailings.
Miller told The Marlborough Express that the company’s three ferries were expected to be fully operational for Labour Day Monday sailings.
