Latest news with #FerryHoldings
1News
02-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Dublin St overbridge confirmed in post-iReX Picton plans
A port infrastructure upgrade in Picton to accommodate new ferries will include building a Dublin St overbridge, Rail Minister Winston Peters confirmed on Tuesday. He was in the port town to announce that Ferry Holdings has reached an agreement with CentrePort, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail on the core infrastructure scope for the new Interislander ferries, covering the physical work and equipment to be delivered by 2029. The Dublin St overbridge was a feature of the previous ferry project iReX, and work had already started on the site when the project was scrapped at the end of 2023. The intersection had to be put back to normal in 2024 to restore the road connection to central Picton. On Tuesday, Peters said the overbridge was necessary to rid the town of the blocked streets it would experience when freight-laden trains arrived at the port. 'This road takes 33% of the passengers from both ferry operators, but it's blocked when long trains arrive in Picton or shunting movements take place in the in the rail yard,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT 'This impacts tourists visiting New Zealand and locals alike. 'Trains will get longer and busier in the future, so we must address this problem.' Rail Minister Winston Peters announces new infrastructure for Port Marlborough in Picton on Tuesday. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Peters said the overbridge, which would be funded by KiwiRail, would be ready by 2029, and would be built with minimal disruption to the community. 'The teams at Ferry Holdings, CentrePort, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail are doing an outstanding job in the service of the taxpayer, and we thank them for it.' Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the announcement as the overbridge had been requested by the community since the scrapped iReX project. 'I'm feeling really pleased and really relieved. It's great to have it confirmed, both for Picton and for the community,' Taylor said. ADVERTISEMENT 'We always knew it was needed with the new ferries ... and it's wonderful to have the minister come down here on site to Picton and confirm to the council and to the community that it is going to happen.' Mayor Nadine Taylor says she is pleased by the announcement of an overbridge for Picton's Dublin St. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Congestion was a critical issue, both for the general public but also emergency services, she said. 'You cannot have a town where you can't have emergency services easily access both sides of the town. 'The overbridge will take away all of that risk. 'It really is a fantastic future-proofing piece of infrastructure for the town of Picton.' Taylor was at Peters' announcement at the Marlborough Port offices on Tuesday, along with Port Marlborough chairperson Warren McNabb, and Ferry Holdings chairperson Chris Mackenzie. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Australia's weather bomb, the surprising costs of getting one more dog, and BTS are back. (Source: 1News) Peters said port and KiwiRail agreements would be entered later this year to confirm the investment splits between Ferry Holdings and each other company and other commercial terms. 'This is not our first regatta, as this no-nonsense infrastructure focus is what was supposed to happen in 2020, until poor management and a lack of oversight allowed iReX to blow out,' he said. 'We will save the taxpayer billions through our disciplined approach. 'The agreements entered into effectively mean the ports and KiwiRail are in, boots and all, with Cabinet's preferred low-cost option.' The current Interislander terminal, built as a temporary option, will become the permanent terminal. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Another major component of the Picton infrastructure included the reuse of passenger and commercial vehicle facilities, as well as the terminal building. ADVERTISEMENT The Interislander's current terminal building, built as a temporary option after the old terminal building was demolished in 2024, would become the permanent terminal. 'iReX was going to build a Taj Mahal terminal building here in Picton, and a Sydney Opera House in Wellington,' Peters said. 'We are keeping [the] existing buildings in contrast, as all passengers need is a warm, dry spot to wait with their luggage, especially when the vast majority wait in their own vehicle, not the building.' Peters said the pre-fab structure would serve as the terminal building for the next 60 years. 'A whole lot of people, more practical, more clever, more smart, who took this country to be number one in the world ... decided it was the best option, and I agree with them.' Peters said there could need to be additional works performed on the terminal building to make it permanent. By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter ADVERTISEMENT LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- 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.
1News
07-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Six shipbuilders shortlisted to deliver new Cook Strait ferries
Six shipbuilders have been shortlisted for the job of delivering the much-anticipated new Cook Strait ferries. In March, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced that two new ferries would replace the aging Interislander fleet by 2029. There would also be necessary upgrades for the Wellington and Picton ports. It came after the Government pulled the plug on iReX due to cost blowouts, which was set to deliver new port-side infrastructure and two rail-enabled hybrid ferries. Ferry Holdings Limited was created by the Government to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports. ADVERTISEMENT Its chair Chris Mackenzie said that six shipyards have been shortlisted by its board to build the new ferries. The ferry is being removed to make way for the construction of new port infrastructure. (Source: 1News) Mackenzie said their management team had invited them to make bids ahead of contracts being signed later this year. "Ferry Holdings has met with all shipyards virtually and shipyard visits are planned over the coming weeks, with Ferry Holdings represented by our Ship Programme Director." The company has also made adviser selections for the ship procurement process. These are naval architects Knud E Hansen, OSK Design for ship interior design, maritime lawyers Holman Fenwick Willan and shipbrokers BRS Shipbrokers. Mackenzie said that the company was recruiting for a chief executive. ADVERTISEMENT
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Ferry Procurement Proceeds At Pace
Press Release – Ferry Holdings Limited Six shipyards with expertise, capability and the capacity to deliver the ships in 2029 have been shortlisted by our Board, and our management team has invited them into the closed tender Request for Proposal (RFP) process ahead of contracts being … Ferry Holdings' closed tender procurement process for the design, build and delivery of two new ships has reached another milestone with key suppliers selected to support the long-term shipbuilding process, chair Chris Mackenzie announced today. 'Ferry Holdings is not a Government department and will be a lean organisation backed by deep expertise,' says Mr Mackenzie. 'Six shipyards with expertise, capability and the capacity to deliver the ships in 2029 have been shortlisted by our Board, and our management team has invited them into the closed tender Request for Proposal (RFP) process ahead of contracts being signed later this year. 'Ferry Holdings has met with all shipyards virtually and shipyard visits are planned over the coming weeks, with Ferry Holdings represented by our Ship Programme Director. Key advisor selections have been made for the ship procurement process: • Naval Architects – Knud E Hansen will support and advise on design and process for the build of the ships. • Ship Interior Designer – OSK Design will lead the design of the interior ship fitout. • Maritime Lawyers – Holman Fenwick Willan will provide specialist maritime law expertise across the procurement and build phases. • Shipbrokers – BRS Shipbrokers will provide specialist commercial maritime expertise across the procurement and build phases. 'In terms of personnel, the company has direct leads on the ship, infrastructure, and commercial finance and legal programmes and is recruiting for a chief executive,' Mr Mackenzie says.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Ferry Procurement Proceeds At Pace
Ferry Holdings' closed tender procurement process for the design, build and delivery of two new ships has reached another milestone with key suppliers selected to support the long-term shipbuilding process, chair Chris Mackenzie announced today. 'Ferry Holdings is not a Government department and will be a lean organisation backed by deep expertise,' says Mr Mackenzie. 'Six shipyards with expertise, capability and the capacity to deliver the ships in 2029 have been shortlisted by our Board, and our management team has invited them into the closed tender Request for Proposal (RFP) process ahead of contracts being signed later this year. 'Ferry Holdings has met with all shipyards virtually and shipyard visits are planned over the coming weeks, with Ferry Holdings represented by our Ship Programme Director. Key advisor selections have been made for the ship procurement process: • Naval Architects – Knud E Hansen will support and advise on design and process for the build of the ships. • Ship Interior Designer – OSK Design will lead the design of the interior ship fitout. • Maritime Lawyers – Holman Fenwick Willan will provide specialist maritime law expertise across the procurement and build phases. • Shipbrokers – BRS Shipbrokers will provide specialist commercial maritime expertise across the procurement and build phases. 'In terms of personnel, the company has direct leads on the ship, infrastructure, and commercial finance and legal programmes and is recruiting for a chief executive,' Mr Mackenzie says.
