11 Jul 2024

Aratere crew triggered auto pilot, leaked documents says

From Morning Report, 6:42 am on 11 July 2024

Leaked documents about the Cook Strait ferry grounding show a crew member accidently triggered the auto pilot onto the wrong course before it crashed into the shore. The ship ran aground shortly after departing Picton on the night of June 21.None of the 47 passengers and crew aboard were injured and the ship was refloated just under 24 hours later. Reporter Bill Hickman told Morning Report producer Michael Cropp about the documents.