Ferry company safety shortcuts not acceptable

The Mari­time Uni­on says attempts to sack the crew of the Cook Strait ferry “Kent” by employ­ers Strait Ship­ping is driv­en by attempts by man­age­ment to bypass new safety reg­u­la­tions.

Mari­time Uni­on Wel­ling­ton Branch Sec­ret­ary Mike Wil­li­ams says the threats to sack a crew is because the work­ers will not com­prom­ise on health and safety.

Mr Wil­li­ams says Strait Ship­ping was ordered by the Mari­time Safety Author­ity to put extra crew on steer­ing duties after a fatal­ity in Tory Chan­nel earli­er this week fol­low­ing a col­li­sion involving a yacht and the ferry “Santa Regina”.

He says Strait Ship­ping have ordered cur­rent crew to go onto steer­ing duties in addi­tion to their cur­rent duties.

Mr Wil­li­ams says the com­pany is try­ing to get around the need for extra crew to ensure the safe oper­a­tion of fer­ries.

“The attack on the crew is just a smokescreen for the real issue which is an appro­pri­ate level of crew, and our mem­bers are not pre­pared to have their safety or pub­lic safety put in jeop­ardy.”

Mr Wil­li­ams says a nation­al meet­ing of the Mari­time Uni­on exec­ut­ive in Wel­ling­ton this morn­ing has giv­en its full sup­port to the crew and their stance for health and safety.

“We can­not have man­agers try­ing to abuse reg­u­la­tions that are put there to pro­tect life and limb.”