\u201cIt was like, \u2018Whoa, bang.\u2019 The skipper was bringing it back, like he wasn\u2019t just powering into it. He was doing what he had to be doing and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins, an actor known for his portrayal of Gamling in The Lord of the Rings, said the rough seas did not bother him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI come from a commercial fishing background with my father before I got into the performing arts \u2026 and so I love being on boats.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said shortly after leaving Tryphena Wharf, when the ferry was in the swell of the Hauraki Gulf, he saw the first life raft come loose.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw it bounce and roll out of its cradle. It\u2019s locked in a cradle on the side of the hull, there\u2019s one on each side and it was like, \u2018Holy, shit that just bounced and rolled off the boat\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins said he and other passengers went to look over the side, and saw the rope snap. The raft inflated and floated back towards the wharf.<\/p>\n
The ferry continued its voyage towards Auckland, and about an hour later Hopkins was sitting in the onboard cafe when there was another commotion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw this rope across on the other side of the boat through the windows at the cafe and then someone came in and went, \u2018the other life raft\u2019s just gone off\u2019,\u201d he said. \u201cThe other life raft had snapped out of its cradle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins said he watched a crew member in a harness try to retrieve it before abandoning their efforts and the second life raft floated away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe headed to Auckland because you\u2019ve got no choice then because we were out in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf …you can\u2019t just pull in somewhere and go, oh, we can\u2019t go anywhere because we haven\u2019t got any life rafts.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the crew handled the situation well and he felt safe on board.<\/p>\n
SeaLink said after the life rafts were lost overboard, as a precaution, a sister ship accompanied the ferry on its return to Auckland.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson said the passengers or crew were not placed at risk, and there was no impact to the vessel\u2019s safe navigation.<\/p>\n
The vessel berthed and all passengers safely disembarked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. Our crew acted in accordance with established procedures and made appropriate decisions based on the conditions at sea,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reviewing the circumstances of both incidents and will take any necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n
SeaLink will be undertaking a full investigation into these incidents.<\/p>\n