Passengers on a ferry sailing from Aotea/Great Barrier Island could only watch as the vessel's two main life rafts snapped from their ropes and floated away in choppy seas on Sunday.
By Amy Williams of RNZ
Auckland resident Bruce Hopkins was on board the afternoon voyage to Auckland after visiting a friend on the island, and said the usual four-hour trip took six hours.
He estimated the swells were up to two metres and there were up to 30 passengers on the car ferry.
"I've been on boats when you're just smacking into the waves, the end of the swells, and you feel the whole boat just shakes and that was happening," he said.
"It was like, 'Whoa, bang.' The skipper was bringing it back, like he wasn't just powering into it. He was doing what he had to be doing and everything."
Hopkins, an actor known for his portrayal of Gamling in The Lord of the Rings, said the rough seas did not bother him.
"I come from a commercial fishing background with my father before I got into the performing arts… and so I love being on boats."
He said shortly after leaving Tryphena Wharf, when the ferry was in the swell of the Hauraki Gulf, he saw the first life raft come loose.
"I saw it bounce and roll out of its cradle. It's locked in a cradle on the side of the hull, there's one on each side and it was like, 'Holy, sh*t that just bounced and rolled off the boat.'"
Hopkins said he and other passengers went to look over the side, and saw the rope snap. The raft inflated and floated back towards the wharf.
The ferry continued its voyage towards Auckland, and about an hour later Hopkins was sitting in the on-board cafe when there was another commotion.
"I saw this rope across on the other side of the boat through the windows at the cafe and then someone came in and went, 'the other life raft's just gone off'," he said. "The other life raft had snapped out of its cradle."
Hopkins said he watched a crew member in a harness try to retrieve it before abandoning their efforts and the second life raft floated away.
"We headed to Auckland because you've got no choice then because we were out in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf...you can't just pull in somewhere and go, oh, we can't go anywhere because we haven't got any life rafts."
He said the crew handled the situation well and he felt safe on board.
SeaLink said after the life rafts were lost overboard, as a precaution, a sister ship accompanied the ferry on its return to Auckland.
A spokesperson said the passengers or crew were not placed at risk, and there was no impact to the vessel's safe navigation.
The vessel berthed and all passengers safely disembarked.
"The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. Our crew acted in accordance with established procedures and made appropriate decisions based on the conditions at sea," the spokesperson said.
"We are reviewing the circumstances of both incidents and will take any necessary steps to prevent a recurrence."
SeaLink will be undertaking a full investigation into these incidents.
Meanwhile, Hopkins said the eventful voyage was no deterrent for him as he enjoyed the open ocean and visiting Great Barrier Island.
"It's just always just such a cool place to go to," he said. "It feels like I've had a whole little holiday, having just been out there for one night."
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