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Investigation report into grounding in 2011 published
An investigation into the grounding of the "Monte Stello" on May 4, 2011, has found a crewing error to blame. The ferry - leased to KiwiRail - made a wrong turn enroute to Picton and bounced off a rock in the Tory Channel that day. The rock dented its hull without penetrating it and damaged its starboard propeller- striking hard enough that the crew on the bridge felt the impact. No one was hurt in the incident and the ferry was able to complete its sailing. If the Monte Stello had collided with the rock a few metres further into the turn then it could have resulted in the hull being penetrated. The Commission released the findings five years after the crash. The TAIC prioritised its inquiry into that maritime disaster over the "Monte Stello" incident for the following three years. At the time of its crash the Monte Stello was contracted to perform the Cook Strait charter service for KiwiRail, which operates the competing Interislander ferries. The investigation found the procedures for cross-checking every action during critical points of navigation were not being followed strictly. The bridge team comprised the master acting as pilot, the third mate acting as co-pilot, the helmsman, and the lookout. I't was the first time that bridge team had worked together. The TAIC recommended KiwiRail address the safety issue. KiwiRail has reviewed bridge resource management training and practices on its ships, including completing an extensive series of independent audits and consequently invested in developing ship and port models for a "state-of-the-art" Smartship simulator in Brisbane as part of its bridge crew training programme. The Monte Stello has since been sold.
Beached at Alang
Beached at Alang Feb. 09
Arrived Alang anchorage
Arrived Alang breakers February 02
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