Interisland Ferry Aratere Grounding - Data Giving Insight
Figure 1: Aratere grounding at approximately 21:45 on the 21st June, 2024
Figure 2: Illustration of the high-resolution wind fields within Marlborough Sounds and the area of grounding showing the spatial variability created by the complex orography / topography of the environment.
At approximately 21:45 on the 21st June, 2024 the Interisland Ferry Aratere grounded just North of Picton, in the Marlborough Sounds (Figure 1). During the Aratere incident response, it’s comforting to know that KiwiRail (the parent organisation of Interisland) Maritime New Zealand, and Port Marlborough (though Marlborough District Council) have access to the highest quality and resolution metocean (ocean and atmospheric) forecasts of any Port or area in New Zealand.
All three organizations recognised the challenge of operating within New Zealand’s complex maritime environment and have worked closely with MetOcean Solutions in developing both atmospheric and marine modelling solutions to meet these challenges.
In terms of atmospheric modelling, we’re maintaining a 500-metre resolution forecast model over the entire Marlborough Sounds (Figure 2), while our hydrodynamic model has a resolution of as high as 70 m in the area where the Aratere grounded (Figure 3). These data are making their way to both Maritime New Zealand in the Rescue Coordination Centre and to Port Marlborough and will be critical datasets necessary to ensure a safe outcome or assist in any eventuality.
As well as the capabilities that Maritime NZ have inhouse, tools developed in the MBIE funded research program run by MetOcean Solutions (The Moana Project) and maintained by MetService, can be used to examine where contaminants (Oil and other flotsam) could potentially end up (Figure 4).
This is a stark difference from the RENA event, where no high-resolution models were available for predicting the fate of contaminants in the ocean immediately when that incident occurred and represents the proactive approach to Search and Rescue and Oil Spill response Maritime New Zealand has taken post the RENA. Having these capabilities and datasets available on demand and ready to go is a game changer and represents the forward vision by Maritime New Zealand to ensure the effective management of New Zealand’s maritime environment.
Dr. Brett Beamsley
Figure 3: Illustration of the high-resolution current fields within Marlborough Sounds and the area of grounding. Model resolution is as high as 70 m in the area of the incident.
Figure 4: Illustration of the potential contaminant dispersion from the Aratere grounding location. While there has been no release of contaminants into the marine environment, Maritime NZ and Port Marlborough are working with the best possible data to be able to respond to the situation.