5 October 1994 Lesson for NZ in Ferry Sinking Says Lincoln Transport Professor

There is a lesson of vigilance for New Zealand in the tragic Baltic Sea sinking of the ferry Estonia, says Lincoln University's Professor of Transport Studies, Chris Kissling.

"Vigilance must be shown by shipping operators in maintaining their equipment to the highest standards and also by the regulatory body, the Maritime Safety Authority, in its auditing of the operations of domestic and international companies working the New Zealand coast.

"The authority must have sufficient expert personnel and resources to carry out its job," says Professor Kissling.

"It needs to be noted that New Zealand coastal waters can be as treacherous as the Baltic. Fortunately we don't have bow-loading ferries but you only have to think back to the Wahine to see what can happen given particular circumstances."

The New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority is the most recently established of three stand-along safety bodies set up in the new de-regulated transport environment - the others cover civil aviation and land transport.

"In the drive for efficiency, accountability and cost saving it is essential that none of these authorities is under-resourced if the New Zealand public is to retain confidence in the transport sector," says Professor Kissling.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.