Great Barrier Island ferry loses both life rafts in Hauraki Gulf

A SeaLink ferry traveling from Aotea/Great Barrier Island to Auckland lost both of its main life rafts during a voyage in choppy seas on Sunday. According to SeaLink, the loss of the rafts did not impact the vessel’s safe navigation, and a sister ship accompanied the ferry to ensure all passengers and crew remained safe during the return trip.

How did the life rafts end up overboard?

The incident occurred during an afternoon voyage where two-metre swells turned a standard four-hour trip into a six-hour journey. Passenger Bruce Hopkins reported that the vessel experienced significant shaking as it hit the waves.

Shortly after leaving Tryphena Wharf in the Hauraki Gulf, the first life raft bounced and rolled out of its hull cradle. Hopkins observed the rope snap, causing the raft to inflate and float back toward the wharf.

Roughly one hour later, a second life raft snapped from its cradle on the opposite side of the boat. A crew member attempted to retrieve the equipment while wearing a harness, but the effort was abandoned and the raft floated away.

Did You Know? Passenger Bruce Hopkins, who witnessed the incidents, is an actor known for his role as Gamling in The Lord of the Rings and has a background in commercial fishing.

Why was a sister ship required for the voyage?

The loss of both primary life rafts while in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf created a safety gap. Hopkins noted that the vessel could not simply stop or divert without essential safety gear on board.

SeaLink investigates after both life rafts snap off Sunday ferry

SeaLink deployed a sister ship to accompany the ferry as a precaution. This ensured that the vessel had support while continuing its journey to Auckland.

SeaLink stated that the crew acted according to established procedures and that the safety of passengers and crew remained the top priority. All passengers disembarked safely upon berthing.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that losing primary evacuation equipment in open waters significantly alters a vessel’s risk profile. In this context, the decision to deploy a sister ship escort serves as a critical mitigation strategy to offset the lack of on-board rafts.

What happens next for SeaLink?

SeaLink has confirmed it will undertake a full investigation into the loss of the equipment. The company is currently reviewing the circumstances of both incidents.

A possible next step is the implementation of new securing measures to prevent a recurrence. The investigation may identify whether the two-metre swells exceeded the equipment’s tolerance or if there were failures in the cradle locks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were the passengers or crew placed at risk?
SeaLink stated that passengers and crew were not placed at risk and there was no impact on the vessel’s safe navigation.

How did the weather affect the travel time?
Due to swells of up to two metres, the usual four-hour trip took six hours to complete.

How did the crew attempt to recover the second raft?
A crew member wearing a harness tried to retrieve the second raft before the effort was abandoned and the raft floated away.

Do you think maritime safety protocols should be updated for extreme weather conditions?