Surfers jump ship

Why on earth does the Palm Beach Ferry operator stop his vessel in the middle of the channel to let surfers jump off the back of the boat to go surfing?

There were more surfers waiting on the wharf at Ettalong ready for the next trip.

How concerned is the operator about safety if he thinks it is okay to stop his vessel in mid-channel to let passengers jump off the back?

Jill Donald, Umina Beach