Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) is investigating a reported near miss between two ferries in Foveaux Strait, between Bluff and Stewart Island, on Tuesday.
Ferry operator Real Journeys advised the organisation of the incident immediately after it occurred and said yesterday it had launched its own investigation.
Chief executive Dave Hawkey said the Foveaux Express and Southern Express had passed within 50-80m of each other while operating in fog.
"I can confirm that the boats had their radars on. The guys knew there was another boat coming, it's not as though they came out of the blue.
"It's probably a little too close, they should be a little further apart, but we've got to learn from this and work out what we could have done better," he told NZPA yesterday.
MNZ said it was unclear how long its investigation would take and could not make further comment.
