Trainee master of Fullers ferry the day it crashed says he felt pressured by company to complete training faster

A teacher suffered a brain bleed when she fell down the stairs as a result of the crash in 2017, and has been unable to return to work.

Herald reporter Sam Hurley says the trainee was under the supervision of a highly-experienced master.

He says investigations by Maritime New Zealand revealed both men said they needed more training, particularly with berthing the vessel at Devonport Wharf.

Fullers has pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act and faces a fine of up to 1.5 million dollars.