Another Rena-like grounding is an imminent possibility on New Zealand's coast if designated shipping routes are not introduced, says Marico Marine New Zealand director John Riding.
Mr Riding has brought renewed focus on the issue after utilising vessel tracking to identify many large ships are taking perilous "shortcuts" in the country's waters.
He says the implementation of ship routing, estimated to cost NZ$250,000 (US$209,000), would ensure safe transit via the appropriate adoption of charts, published guidance and formal requirements.
"There are many options available in the toolbox that will make routing work, including things as innocent as reporting points for inbound traffic to ports (a reporting point implies a ship passes through it and the evidence is that they do), requiring safe transiting distances off key reefs and headlands (which any regional council could introduce into its bylaws) and printing routing information on our charts," he says.
Maritime New Zealand spokesperson Steve Rendle says the Transport Accident Investigation Commission into the Rena incident will consider ship routing, amongst other safety measures, and his organisation will then assess that outcome.
Iain MacIntyre
