Latest news with #CookStrait
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
New Cook Strait ferry due in Wellington
The Stena Livia will replace Bluebridge's Strait Feronia. Photo: Supplied / StraitNZ Bluebridge's new Cook Strait ferry will be arriving in Wellington on Thursday. In a post on its Facebook page, Bluebridge said the Livia was scheduled to sail into the capital about 8am. After completing a full dry dock in Denmark the ship had departed Europe and made its way through the Panama Canal and on to New Zealand. The company announced in March it was buying the vessel to replace the Strait Feronia , which first launched in 1997. At the time, StraitNZ chief executive Shane McMahon said the company was familiar with the vessel type and knew it was well suited to work on Cook Strait. McMahon said the new ship would provide a 10 percent increase in vehicle capacity and increase Bluebridge passenger capacity significantly with further alterations. Bluebridge said the Livia would sail into Wellington harbour escorted by tugs. It invited the public to view the arrival from Oriental Bay where it would be handing out coffee in a Bluebridge keep cup, chocolate fish and a chance to win a return trip on the ship. As the Stena Livia, the ship had sailed for the Stena Line between Germany and Latvia. It began sailing in 2008. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Port companies and KiwiRail reach agreements over two new Cook Strait ferries
The new ferries will replace the ageing Interislander fleet. Photo: Flickr user Sid Mosdel CC BY 2.0 Agreements have been reached with port companies and KiwiRail on the type of infrastructure and equipment needed before two new Cook Strait ferries arrive in 2029. Rail Minister Winston Peters announced the agreements between Ferry Holdings, Centre Port, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail while in Picton on Tuesday. "The agreements entered into effectively mean the ports and KiwiRail are in, boots and all, with Cabinet's preferred low-cost option," Peters said. Existing port infrastructure would be used where possible to keep costs down, he said. New wharves would be built in Picton and the existing wharf in Wellington would be modified, strengthened and extended "by the minimal amount necessary" to accommodate the new, larger ships, Peters said. New linkspans will be built at both ports. The plan aims to reuse the current passenger and commercial vehicle facilities and the terminal building at both ports. "We are pleased to confirm for the locals in Picton that the Dublin Street overbridge will be built - ridding the town of the blocked streets it will experience when freight-laden trains arrive at the port," Peters said. "The road and rail will be grade separated before 2029 as a safety and an efficiency improvement for road and rail." The ports and KiwiRail have agreed to minimal scope improvements to the rail yards, which Peters said would avoid a costly scope creep by reusing as much of the existing yards as possible at both ports. Six shipbuilders have been shortlisted for the job of delivering the new Cook Strait ferries, with a contract expected to be awarded later this year. The investment split between the companies and each company will also be confirmed later this year. Ferry Holdings - which was set up to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports - has outlined the jobs ahead to 2029 as part of its first Statement of Performance Expectations and Statement of Intent. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Treasury advised government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries weeks before it announced it would
Minister for Rail Winston Peters announcing the Cook Strait ferry replacement plan back in March. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Treasury advised the government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries three weeks before it announced it would. On March 31 the government announced it would buy two new Interislander ferries to be delivered by 2029 to replace the current aging fleet. It came in wake of Finance Minister Nicola Willis having pulled the plug on the previous government's Cook Strait mega ferry plan named iReX in 2023. The ships announced in March would be 200 meters long and rail enabled, which meant rail freight could be rolled on and off them. New documents revealed under the Official Information Act show just 20 days earlier on March 10, Treasury recommended the government buy non-rail enabled ships. The agency said the option would be cheaper while achieving the aim of the project. "There are operational advantages from rail-enablement, but these do not fully offset the increased capital cost." The Ministry of Transport also cast doubt on the move, and last year a Ministerial Advisory Group recommended the government buy two non-rail enabled ferries. Meanwhile the Ferry Holdings Company which was set up in March to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports supported a decision to buy rail enabled ferries. "The simplest and most efficient method of moving freight across Cook Strait is by rail enabled ferries." In a statement to RNZ Rail Minister Winston Peters said that officials took a narrow approach on the consideration of the ferry options. "They were effectively on autopilot, believing the government would agree to end 60 years of Interislander connecting road and rail." Peters said he did not agree with the advice Treasury provided. "Their advice was so blinkered that it consistently presented its recommended solution as "cheaper" even when their own analysis showed the option we selected had the lowest overall cost and the highest economic value." Treasury declined to comment on Peters' statements. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Treasury advised government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait feries weeks before it announced it would
Minister for Rail Winston Peters announcing the Cook Strait ferry replacement plan back in March. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Treasury advised the government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries three weeks before it announced it would. On March 31 the government announced it would buy two new Interislander ferries to be delivered by 2029 to replace the current aging fleet. It came in wake of Finance Minister Nicola Willis having pulled the plug on the previous government's Cook Strait mega ferry plan named iReX in 2023. The ships announced in March would be 200 meters long and rail enabled, which meant rail freight could be rolled on and off them. New documents revealed under the Official Information Act show just 20 days earlier on March 10, Treasury recommended the government buy non-rail enabled ships. The agency said the option would be cheaper while achieving the aim of the project. "There are operational advantages from rail-enablement, but these do not fully offset the increased capital cost." The Ministry of Transport also cast doubt on the move, and last year a Ministerial Advisory Group recommended the government buy two non-rail enabled ferries. Meanwhile the Ferry Holdings Company which was set up in March to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports supported a decision to buy rail enabled ferries. "The simplest and most efficient method of moving freight across Cook Strait is by rail enabled ferries." In a statement to RNZ Rail Minister Winston Peters said that officials took a narrow approach on the consideration of the ferry options. "They were effectively on autopilot, believing the government would agree to end 60 years of Interislander connecting road and rail." Peters said he did not agree with the advice Treasury provided. "Their advice was so blinkered that it consistently presented its recommended solution as "cheaper" even when their own analysis showed the option we selected had the lowest overall cost and the highest economic value." Treasury declined to comment on Peters' statements. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- RNZ News
Interislander ferry Aratere to retire in August
Tourism operators aren't sure whether they'll welcome smooth sailing or face choppy waters once the Interislander service loses one of its ferries. The Aratere retires in August, reducing the Cook Strait fleet to two until the expected arrival of new ones in 2029. KiwiRail operates the service and is confident the remaining ferries can handle the demand. Tess Brunton reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
