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Clark Scott
Manager
Shotover Jet has been operating commercial Jet Boats in the Shotover River Canyons since 1970. In that time, and into the future, safety remains the paramount consideration for the company
Commercial Jet Boating is a highly safety-conscious industry subject to rigorous regulatory control.
The industry’s aim is to ensure that customers enjoy experiences that meet the very highest safety standards.
Shotover Jet prides itself on having in place internal systems and procedures that meet, and in most cases exceed, the exacting industry and official requirements.
In order to ensure that it is operating at peak safety and efficiency, Shotover Jet is always willing to examine aspects of its operations with customers and suppliers.
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Refit Plan:
Every year we put together a comprehensive boat refit programme which predetermines when boats, engines and jet units will be rebuilt. At regular intervals, we strip, fully check and refit all of our boats.
Critical Parts Tracking:
We have introduced a computerised critical parts tracking system which ensures the integrity and safety of critical componentry in our boats. Every part in the boats which has the ability to cause failure of a vital function is tracked so we know how it is serviced and when it is replaced. For example, in addition to daily visual inspections, the tracking system requires that crack testing on steering nozzles occurs every 250 hours and that irrespective of whether there is any damage, the steering nozzle is replaced every 2,000 hours. The system is computerised and ensures that no critical componentry is overlooked as part of the maintenance programme.
Boat Audits:
In addition to the critical parts tracking, we carry out periodic independent checks of all our boats. Our internal maintenance staff do this quarterly and external third party experts carry out these checks annually.
Daily Boat Checks:
These have always been undertaken at Shotover Jet but we have changed the system. Now, instead of the boat driver carrying out a daily check at the end of the day, we have two technical engineering people carry out these checks. One technical person checks the boat and the other cross checks the first person’s work.
Reliability Centred Maintenance:
In October 2001 we introduced Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM). This is a maintenance methodology introduced into the airline industry approximately 15 years ago. It has had remarkable success in improving engine efficiency and reliability in that industry.
Whilst we consider our current maintenance processes to be sound, we are always striving to improve the quality of our work in this area. RCM will allow Shotover Jet to raise the standard again for the jet boating industry and assist in the maturing and development of our maintenance processes. The initial training of our technical staff started in October 2001 and was carried out by Price Waterhouse, the official licensees for RCM.
Root Cause Analysis
RCA is a process of identifying the root cause of failures and allows systems to be put in place to mitigate the same failure occurring again.
All applicable management and all senior technical staff receive comprehensive training in RCA.
Purpose Built Boats
- Your Jet Boat has been designed specifically for the Shotover Canyons.
- Boats carry a maximum of 14 passengers plus the driver.
- Constructed of heavy gauge marine aluminium, the hulls are designed for maximum strength, speed and manoeuvrability.
- Power is provided by twin V6 Buick engines running on 98 high octane unleaded fuel.
- The boats are 5.30 metres long and 2.44 metres wide. The twin Hamilton Jet units thrust 800 litres of water per second.
- Shotover Jet operates a fleet of seven identical and interchangeable highly specialised craft.
Driver Safety
Our highly trained drivers know their boats and the fast flowing waters of the Shotover River like the back of their hands. Their driving training hours are way in excess of the minimum requirement and they take your safety very seriously (in fact they complete 120 hours of driving on the river before they take their first paying customer). This is Thrill Therapy, but you are in safe hands.
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