#Authorities

New Zealand Fines Ferry Operator for Grounding and Lack of Crew Training

New Zealand ordered inter-island RoRo ferry operator KiwiRail to pay a fine of NZ$400,000 ($234,671) after the company was found culpable of endangering passenger safety. The fine stems from a June 2024 incident in which the ferry Aratere grounded because the crew did not know how to operate the newly installed autopilot system. Maritime NZ found failures in KiwiRail's change management processes, training, and familiarization procedures.