The Maritime Union wants the Government to take the mega-ferry project off the chopping block in the wake of legal action against Interislander's operators. 

Maritime NZ, the entity which oversees safety on our seas, has filed a charge on health and safety grounds against KiwiRail. 

The charge relates to the Kaitaki incident, where roughly a year ago the ship lost power in Cook Strait with hundreds of passengers on board. 

Craig Harrison, Secretary for the Maritime Union, told Tim Dower that it’s unlikely that we’ll get the luxury of time when it comes to replacing the ships.  

He said that initially the plan was to retire the current vessels by mid-2025 or the end of 2026, replaced with new ships specifically designed to sail in heavier weather with more frequency.  

Those plans have now been kicked for touch, Harrison said, until the Government finds another solution. 

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