Aratere’s date with destiny, TT’s ferries almost here

LONG-serving Cook Strait rail/ro-pax Aratere will make its final crossing, from Picton to Wellington, at 1000 hours on 18 August, KiwiRail has announced. 

Interisland Line announced the ship would be withdrawn “later his year” at the end of April, in order to start work on new Picton terminal infrastructure required for new rail/ro-paxes due to enter service in 2029. Subsequently KiwiRail abandoned plans to drydock Aratere in Singapore at the end of June and advised the ship would conclude its service as soon as fleetmate Kaiārahi returned from its own drydocking. 

Today KiwiRail said Kaiārahi was expected to return on 18 August, and return to service at 1500 hours that day prompting Aratere’s retirement: "Freshly painted and with its hull cleaned, and a comprehensive maintenance schedule achieved, the ship is running well and currently making good progress towards Wellington.” 

Interislander EGM Duncan Roy said Aratere’s retirement is a significant milestone in the company’s transition to a modernised fleet.   

“This is the start of our preparation for the new ships, and while it will have some impact on capacity on Cook Strait until they arrive, we will make it as smooth as possible for our passengers and freight customers. No booking changes are required for freight customers or passengers as a new two-ship timetable is already in place,” he said. 

“We are still considering options for the sale of Aratere after retirement, and the vessel will be laid up at its Wellington berth while we work with a shipbroker.” 

A private farewell event for Aratere crew will be held early next month.  

Meanwhile, TT Line’s Bass Strait ro-pax Spirit of Tasmania I is due in Geelong in the early hours of tomorrow [8 August] upon its delayed return from drydock in Singapore, where the ship was detained by the Maritime & Port Authority over what TT Line has characterised as minor issues. 

Spirit of Tasmanian I is due to resume service to Devonport tomorrow night, and upon its arrival Spirit of Tasmania II will move to a lay-by berth for several days of in-water maintenance. 

The newbuilding Spirit of Tasmania V, enroute from Scotland to Tasmania, is nearing Fremantle where it will stopover for regulatory clearances, before proceeding to Hobart. AIS at 1500 hours today shows the ro-pax is expected at Fremantle at 0800 hrs on 13 August, after leaving Port Louis on 3 August.