New Zealand's Cook Strait to see two newbuild ropax ferries

The New Zealand government’s ferry acquisition entity Ferry Holdings has signed a deal with China’s Guangzhou Shipyard to build two car, passenger and freight ferries.

Interislander, the ferry service provider owned by state-owned transport company KiwiRail, will operate the two newbuilds once they have been built and delivered. 

Eventually, the ferries will ply the notoriously tricky waters of the Cook Strait that divides New Zealand’s North and South Islands, taking passengers and vehicles between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island. 

The 98-km route takes 3.0-3.5 hours on average, but times can vary significantly based on changeable weather patterns and rough seas, according to Interislander.

Ferry Holdings chairman Chris MacKenzie said the new vessels would give "certainty for our tourism and freight sectors, both essential to our livelihood".

"The new ferries will strengthen the connection across the Cook Strait," he said.

Naval architecture and marine engineering consultants Knud E Hansen called the Cook Strait waters "challenging" and pointed out the particular environmental sensitivity of the Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound. 

The consultants developed the initial concept designs and contract specifications for the vessels, vetted the shipyard and offered technical and commercial support on negotiations.

Knud E Hansen managing director Javier Suarez said the company would continue to support New Zealand in its fleet renewal. 

“This fleet renewal represents a major investment in the future of Cook Strait transport, and we are committed to ensuring Ferry Holdings receives vessels of the highest safety, reliability and performance standards," Mr Suarez said, calling the Strait "one of the world’s most demanding ferry routes". 

The statement from the designers did not offer technical details about the vessels, but New Zealand Rail Minister Winston Peters gave some of the vessels’ specifications to media in October.

Due for completion in 2029, the "ship specifications [are] for 200-m-long ferries with 2.4 km of lanes for trucks, cars and 40 rail wagons aboard each ship, and room for 1,500 passengers each," Mr Peters said.

“Two new ferries serving road and rail will enter Cook Strait service in 2029, thanks to a NZ$596M (US$344M) fixed price contract between Ferry Holdings and experienced shipbuilder Guangzhou Shipyard International,” Mr Peters says.

“The total programme will cost less than NZ$2.0Bn, with the taxpayer contribution coming in under the NZ$1.7Bn allocated at the start of this year.