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Tag: New Zealand | Ferry Shipping News

Apr 06
3

SHIPS

By | 2025 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Christmas 2029: Two New Interislander Ferries for New Zealand

Big news from Minister Winston Peters: New Zealand is set to welcome two new state-of-the-art Interislander ferries by Christmas 2029, offering a crucial upgrade to Cook Strait transport – for both passengers and freight.

This is a politically sensitive project, following the cancellation of the iReX programme and the decision to build two new ferries at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.

Key takeaways of the new project:

  • RoPax train ferries, 200m LOA, 28m wide (longer and wider than current fleet, but smaller than iRex)
  • Capacity for 1,500 passengers, 2,400 lane metres of RoRo deck, and 40 rail wagons
  • Cost-effective infrastructure: existing terminals will be reused wherever possible, with smarter upgrades in Picton and Wellington
  • A focus on affordability, reliability, and simplicity – a more pragmatic approach compared to the cancelled iReX project
  • The road and rail marshalling yards will be modestly modified, not completely rebuilt as previously planned
  • The terminal buildings in both Wellington and Picton will remain as they are today

Quotes

“While some may regret the absence of a Taj Mahal in Picton and the Sydney Opera House in Wellington, the people paying their taxes will not.”

Minister Winston Peters

 Next steps: the Ferry Holdings Ltd board will shortlist shipyards to compete on price and quality, with a ferry contract awarded later this year. Ferry Holdings will also work with Port Marlborough, CentrePort and KiwiRail to finalise the scope, progress engineering, strengthen the delivery programme and agree co-funding terms.

Speech delivered by Minister for Rail Winston Peters in the Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament, to media at the announcement of the decision on the future of the interisland ferries: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/rail-ferries-and-straightforward-infrastructure

Dec 13
2

Two New Ferries in 2029 for the Cook Strait

By | 2024 Newsletter week 50 | No Comments

It is exactly one year since the New Zealand Government decided to pull the plug on KiwiRail’s iRex plan to build two new rail-enabled RoPax ferries for Interislander. Reason: ballooning costs, up to 3 billion NZD (1.653 billion EUR).

On Wednesday 11 December, the Government announced new plans:

  • New Zealand Government is establishing a new company to procure two new ferries for the Cook Strait. Cabinet has agreed to capitalise the new company with NZD 4 million of equity.
  • The ferries are expected to begin operation in 2029 (three years later than the cancelled iRex ferries)
  • The Ministerial Advisory Group’s recommendation is for the ships to be medium-sized RoPax vessels, approximately 200m in length. This is larger than the current ferries but smaller than the iReX ferries.
  • Will the new ferries be rail-enabled? “The new ferries will be rail compatible” (…)
  • Expected cost: commercially confidential until procurement and negotiations for the associated landside infrastructure have been completed.
  • First stage of the procurement process in March, after which final decisions on next steps will be taken.
  • Opportunity: alternative proposals will be assessed alongside the initial procurement results in March.

Read official statements from the Government and KiwiRail

New ferries will ensure safe, resilient connection

Press conference

Q&A pdf

Press release KiwiRail

KiwiRail welcomes announcement on future ferries for Cook Strait

Photo Kiwirail: KAITAKI passing through Whekenui Bay

Feb 24
0

Interest in Straitsman

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Québec’s CTMA has confirmed an interest in acquiring the STRAITSMAN from New Zealand operator Bluebridge.  The 2005 ro-pax will soon leave the service, after being replaced in the fleet by the CONNEMARA, acquired from Stena RoRo.

CTMA would purchase the STRAITSMAN to replace the back-up vessel C.T.M.A. VACANCIER, originally the AURELLA of 1973.

Meanwhile, appearing in front of a Scottish Government committee, Stuart Garrett, Managing Director of Northlink Ferries indicated that industry reports of CMAL visiting the vessel were also correct.  If CMAL was to purchase the vessel for use by Northlink, it would operate on services to Orkney and Shetland to boost passenger and freight capacity.

Photo Bluebridge

May 28
0

TOP STORY

By | 2020 Newsletter week 22 | No Comments

New Zealand State-owned KiwiRail is taking the next step to procure a new generation of Cook Strait ferries.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) to find a preferred shipyard to build two new ships for the Interislander is being issued today, the next step in the procurement process.

The NZD 400 million contribution in Budget 2020 has enabled KiwiRail to go out to international tender to build the new ships, which are intended to arrive for service in 2024 and 2025. When the ferries are delivered, it will be over 25 years since New Zealand last introduced a brand-new purpose-built ferry to its fleet.

KiwiRail’s iReX Project was established to replace the existing three ship fleet with two new, large, rail-capable ships to be brought into service during 2024 and 2025.

KiwiRail has engaged OSK ShipTech to design the ferries.

The two ferries will be able to carry twice as many passengers as the current three ship fleet, 300% more rail wagons and almost double the number of trucks and other vehicles.

The new ships will be much more fuel efficient and produce significantly lower CO2 emissions. They will be able to run on battery power at times. KiwiRail is also future proofing the design so new fuel sources can be adopted as they become available.

The RFP process to identify the successful shipyard is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Sep 12
0

TOP STORY

By | 2019 Newsletter week 37 | No Comments

OSK-Shiptech To Design Two New Ferries For Kiwirail, New Zealand

Danish naval architects OSK-ShipTech A/S have signed a newbuilding contract with state-owned KiwiRail for the design and development of the next generation rail-enabled ferries for the busy Cook Strait route between New Zealand’s North and South Islands.

The new ferries will strengthen and enhance the vital transport link between capitol Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island. Currently, operating company Interislander is operating a fleet of three ferries – two ro-pax ferries and one train ferry.

“As part of the project, new terminals tailored to the vessels will also be developed in order to optimise the infrastructure and fully benefit of the new designs. We are of course very excited to be part of this holistic project and the continued development for KiwiRail in the region,” says Anders Ørgård, Chief Commercial Officer of OSK-ShipTech.

The new train ferries are targeted for delivery in 2024.