NSW: Mistake, design flaws led to ferry crash: mistake

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2006
NSW: Mistake, design flaws led to ferry crash: mistake

A mistake by the master .. and design flaws .. have been blamed for a Sydney Ferry
crash that left a passenger injured.

A government report into the crash of the ferry Narrabeen on May 26 last year found
its master inadvertently switched to back-up mode .. instead of manoeuvring mode .. while
preparing to berth.

The vessel lost power and hit the wharf at Circular Quay.

However .. the report says the design of the bridge control console contributed to
the potential for incorrect switching.

And .. it says neither the master nor the helmsman activated an emergency communications
system to alert passengers to an imminent collision.

AAP RTV pj/hn/wz/bart/tm

KEYWORD: FERRY (SYDNEY)

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