Troy Stade: Maritime Union lawyer responds to Winston Peters' 'unhelpful' speculation about Aratere grounding

One legal expert is challenging Winston Peters' speculation about what happened to the Interislander's Aratere.

The ferry ran aground near Picton in June, and its detention notice has officially lifted this afternoon.

The Aratere has had inspections and tests and will make a graduated return to service - beginning with freight, then trucks, then passengers.

This week, NZ First asked if someone left the ship on auto-pilot while getting a coffee - then couldn't turn it off.

Maritime Union lawyer Troy Stade says the crew absolutely didn't duck out for a coffee.

"And it astounds me that the acting Prime Minister would raise unsubstantiated rumour and conjecture in the middle of an active investigation." 

UPDATE- a leaked document revealed the autopilot button was mistakenly pressed by the crew. To learn more, click here.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good afternoon. It turns out the crew on the bridge
of the ferry that ran aground and not happy to
be accused of ducking out for coffee just before it happened.
That was what New Zealand First had said on Twitter yesterday.
They said that the crew had put the boat on
autopilot and went out to get a coffee and then
couldn't get the autopilot off in time. Here's Winston Peters
on the Country today.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
When I read the response in the June Herald, I thought, quicky,
that's not a denial, while would you need an inquiry?
Four we heating the four weast letter into something as
simple as that? This is not complicated now.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
The crew were unionized, The union has a lawyer. The
lawyer as Troy stayed with us. Now, hey Troy, Hello,
how are I very well? Thank you? Did they duck
out for coffee?

Speaker 3 (00:40):
Absolutely not.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Nobody on the bridge. Nobody on the bridge duck out
for coffee.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
Regarding New Zealand First comments on Twitter last night and
Minister Pez this morning, both are quite frankly unhelpful and
it astounds me that the acting Prime Minister would raise
unsubstantiated rumor and conjecture in the middle with an active investigation.
No crew went out at Ness Cafe gates, if you

(01:09):
want to call it, that is little more than unsubstantiated rumor.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Did they put the vessel on autopilot?

Speaker 3 (01:18):
So the Mulborough District Council Harbard Master has addressed this
point already. The point at which the vessel incident occurred,
the vessel was able to be on autopilot and the
steering configurations used for the departure of the vessel were
in line with standard operations at the hands of experienced crew.

(01:43):
The presence of autopilot hasn't been fayed as an issue
for the departure of the vessel.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
Was ye okay, So are you saying yes, it was
on autopilot?

Speaker 3 (01:54):
Autopilot is an aspect on the operation of the vessel
at that time.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Episode yes, were they struggling to get it off autopilot?

Speaker 3 (02:03):
So the investigation involves a large number of quite complex systems.
We're actively engaging with that investigation, as are the crew
trying to get to grips with what happened. Unfortunately, we're
not at a positionion where we can conclusively say for
sure what happened and provide you specific comment.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
Have any of the members of the bridge crew said
to you, yes, we couldn't get it off autopilot.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
So, as I say, the engagement we're having with the crew,
that's still subject to the investigation. So I'm not in
a position to disclose that as yet.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
What action are you going to take that? If they've
engaged you, there's a point for that, so what are
you supposed to do.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
So we're advocating for their interests in this matter. Ky
Rail are independently advised. We're taking them through the investigation
process first of all with take Transport Act Acts and
investigation Commission, and then should they choose Maritime Zeland as
the regulator, will come through with an investigation.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
With respect to what Winston Peter's in New Zealand first said,
are you going to do anything there?

Speaker 3 (03:14):
So we can take instruction on that point, But I
think giving any further oxygen just does a disservice to
the crew and the professionalism with which they handled the
vessel during and after the investigation after the incident.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Rather, Troy, thank you for your time, really appreciate it.
Troy staid, maritime lawyer. So it was an order pilot
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