Aratere interview transcript

Transcript of this morning's Radio New Zealand interview with Jim Quinn, CEO KiwiRail, on the Aratere incident in Cook Strait this week:

RadioNZ: Good morning Mr Quinn.

JQ: Good morning.

RadioNZ: Why did this happen?

JQ: Well we're still ascertaining the exact details of why, but obviously, in basic terms, the propeller fell off.

RadioNZ: And clearly that wasn't supposed to happen.

JQ: That's right, the propeller is supposed to be attached to the ship.

RadioNZ: One ferry down, where does this leave KiwiRail and its customers?

JQ: Well we are undertaking an urgent assessment of options, but for now we are up the creek without a paddle.

RadioNZ: Or in the strait, without a propeller.

(laughter)

JQ: Yes, you could say that.

RadioNZ: What happened when it fell off?

JQ: It was spotted whirling away. It's a bit humourous really, I keep picturing this thing whirling away on it's own, as though it's escaping.

RadioNZ: But it's not humourous is it Mr Quinn, this is the latest serious incident in a long line of serious incidents related to this ship isn't it?

JQ: No it's not humuorous, I assure you we are taking the matter seriously.

RadioNZ: Where is the propeller now?

JQ: Well we assumed it was on the bottom of Cook Strait.

RadioNZ: Assumed?  It must have sank surely?  Do you know where exactly?  Have you marked the spot?

JQ: We know the approximate location, it's not hard to find. Just look for the flotilla of scrap metal merchants.

RadioNZ: Scrap metal merchants are out there?

JQ: Like a flock of seagulls.  They were there as fast as a tow truck driver to a car crash.

RadioNZ: But you say assumed?

JQ: That's right, we assumed it had sunk after it fell off.  But it turns out....

RadioNZ: Surely it's a given, not an assumption?

JQ: Well it turns out it didn't sink. We....

RadioNZ: Didn't sink?

JQ: That's right, it was spotted floating a few kilometres away by the crew of the Arahura later in the day.

RadioNZ: Floating?  It was floating?

JQ: I understand your surprise, we were just as surprised.

RadioNZ: How is this possible?

JQ: After consulting with the ship's builder, it turns out it's made of plastic.

RadioNZ: Plastic?!

JQ: That's right, hollow plastic.  And of course the forces exerted on it propelling a ship of this size, were just too much. It sheared right off.  But we just made it back alright.

RadioNZ: Just?

JQ: Well water was pouring in the hole.  So we had to get back to dock quick smart.

RadioNZ: Hole?  There was a hole in the ship?

JQ: Where the propeller had been.  The propeller shaft pokes through a hole, so when it fell off, the hole was open.  Ideally, ships operate best without a hole below the water line.

RadioNZ: Why was the propeller made of plastic?

JQ: According to the manufacturer it was intended to enable easy recovery in the event of it becoming detached.  But since they hadn't told us about this, we suspect it might have been done to cut costs.  Another theory we are investigating, is the possibility that the propeller was manufactured in a 3D printer. 

RadioNZ: So what next?  When will the ship be repaired?

JQ: We're not yet sure if can be repaired.

RadioNZ: Why not?

JQ: Unfortunately it appears other parts of the ship that we thought were steel are also manufactured from plastic.

RadioNZ: How much of it?

JQ: (inaudible)

RadioNZ: How much of the ship is manufactured from plastic Mr Quinn?

JQ: Quite a bit.

RadioNZ: How much Mr Quinn?

JQ: Quite a bit unfortunately.

RadioNZ: How much Mr Quinn?

JQ: All of it.

RadioNZ: That's staggering Mr Quinn.  The whole ship is manufactured from plastic?

JQ: Well not quite all of it, just the structural parts.  It has other materials too, like upholstery fabric and horsehair stuffing in the seat cushions, which is perfect for a ship, as horsehair is very water resistent.

RadioNZ: But no steel?

JQ: Not that we have been able to find, but that's not to say that there isn't some somewhere.

RadioNZ: It's just.....just.....difficult to fathom isn't it Mr Quinn?

JQ: Indeed it is, although it's also quite amazing if you think about it.  We own the world's largest model ship.  I expect I'll take a call from James May at some point, sending us his sincere congratulations.

RadioNZ: Will you be replacing the ship?

JQ: That's a big project, and one that will require government approval, so I can't comment at this stage.

RadioNZ: And if you do buy a new one, it will be made from steel, with steel propellers?

JQ: Oh yes, most likely.  That would definitely be our desired outcome from any procurement.

RadioNZ: Thank you for your time Mr Quinn.

JQ: Thank you.

RadioNZ: That was Mr Jim Quinn, CEO of KiwiRail.  It's half past nine.