Soviets to get complaints

Press, 13 March 1986, Page 4

Soviets to get complaints

PA Wellington No action will be taken in New Zealand on reports by Mikhail Lermontov passengers criticising the evacuation of the sinking ship, apart from passing the reports to the Soviet authorities. The Ministry of Transport’s Marine Division director, Mr Hugh Jones, has said he had read letters from two Sydney couples who had been passengers in the ship which strongly criticised the way the crew had handled the crisis. The letters had been examined, but as they had nothing to do with New Zealand’s part in the

disaster, they would be passed on to the Soviet inquiry into the sinking, he said. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, who made the preliminary inquiry report public last week, said allegations of shortcomings of the crew had not been borne out in the inquiry. However, both the Sydney couples said last evening they were not satisfied with the findings of the inquiry and were surprised their letters were to be passed to the Soviet authorities.

Jim and Lesley Bushel, who have condemned some of the crew and all officers for a “completely

disorganised shambles,” wrote to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson.

Mr Bushel said last evening he had been told in a letter from Mr Thompson that his report would be referred to the Ministry. He said he was happy for the report to go to the Russian inquiry, but had sent it to Mr Thompson because he was not sure where else to send it.

“I thought if I sent it to the Russians it would be thrown in the garbage.” The second letter, from Hugh and Gwendoline Hallard, mainly accuses the officers of failing in their duty to help passengers and the cruise director of failing to tell passengers of the gravity of the situation. Mr Hallard, who sent the letter to the New Zealand High Commission in Sydney from where it was passed to the Ministry of Transport, said he had

intended his comments to be addressed to the New Zealand inquiry.

“I don’t see there is very much point in handing it to the Russian authorities. I think they will throw it in the rubbish tin,” he said. The Mikhail Lermontov sank after hitting rocks near Point Gore on February 16. One life, a Russian crew member, was lost.

A preliminary inquiry in New Zealand found that the Marlborough Harbourmaster, Captain Don Jamison, was giving orders on the bridge when the ship struck the rocks.

Mr Bushel and Mr Hallard said they had spoken with their lawyers about compensation for property lost with the ship, but no action was to be taken at this stage. Both couples lost up to about $lO,OOO worth of possessions which were not fully covered by insurance.