Charges over Fullers ferry crash in Auckland

Monday, 24 August 2015

An Auckland harbour ferry company has been charged after one of its vessels crashed into the Devonport wharf, injuring 16 people.

Six of the injured passengers were taken to North Shore Hospital with minor injuries after the crash in February.

A Maritime NZ spokesman said it had conducted a thorough investigation of the incident.

It had subsequently laid a charge against the company under section 50 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; namely that Fullers failed to comply with the duty to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction of any employee while at work harmed any other person.

The maximum penalty was a fine of $250,000.

The company will appear in the Auckland District Court next month.

In a statement, Fullers Group Ltd ceo Douglas Hudson said it had co-operated fully with the Maritime NZ investigation and was taking the decision to lay charges seriously.

'At all times we are conscious of our health and safety obligations to our employees and the public and we will be considering our response to the charge being laid.'

The Kea was carrying 61 passengers and three crew when the collision happened.

The ferry is 27 years old, and makes an estimated 10,000 trips a year between Auckland and Devonport.