Huge seas force ferry back

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 1

Huge seas force ferry back

PA Wellington The master of the Cook Strait ferry Aranui, Captain John Hermans, turned his ship about at the Wellington Heads and ran for safety back to Picton yesterday after being confronted with huge seas whipped up by. wind gusts of up to 80 knots (about 150km/h). “It was one of the worst storms I have seen in 15 years and we never got into the roughest part of it,” he said. “I decided to turn her before we hit really bad weather.” Captain Hermans said

the ship had left Picton at 10 a.m. in calm weather but the weather worsened as the Aranui crossed the strait. “We hit winds of 147km/h, high seas, and heavy swells. Weather and radio reports said Wellington was being battered by a severe storm with winds gusting even i higher. The worst moment for me was making the decision to turn round and go back.” Having made the decision, Captain Hermans wanted to turn the ship while it was still possible. “I took her well down into the strait about five miles

south of Karori Rock lighthouse,” he said. “I waited till I saw a less heavv swell, put on

“I waited till I saw a less heavy swell, put on full power, and put the helm over. She came round quite easily.” As the ship turned passengers were sick and glasses broke in the bar. Captain Hermans said the passengers had not been in any danger although he was sure no-one had enjoyed the trip. Noone was injured but one car was slightly damaged by falling baggage. The Baring Head lighthouse-keeper, Mr S. O’Neill, watching the

roughest seas he has seen in about three years, said the decision to turn the Aranui about “saved another Wahine disaster.” The swells around Barretts Reef would have been too much for the Aranui. Wellington Harbour was not closed to shipping and the Aramoana, which had left Wellington soon after 10 a.m. negotiated the Heads successfully to make her scheduled arrival at Picton about 1.30 p.m, according to the Blenheim reporter of “The Press.” Two other ferry sailings from Picton were cancelled,

leaving about 2000 passengers stranded at the Picton terminal. However, the 10.40 p.m. sailing of the Aramoana went ahead although passengers were warned that the conditions would be very rough. The Aramoana was expected to take on a full complement of about 900 passengers. Accommodation was stretched to the limit in Picton and Blenheim last evening as hotels, motels, private homes, and churches took in families whose holidays had been’ disrupted by the storm.