Bluebridge extends Picton pick

COOK Strait ferry operator StraitNZ Bluebridge has struck a new 39-year commercial agreement with Port Marlborough Ltd to continue to use Picton as its southern terminal until 2064.

The companies say the agreement provides long-term certainty for StraitNZ’s operations in Picton and enables further coordinated planning for both businesses to support freight and passenger services across Cook Strait over the next four decades.

Port Marlborough chief executive Rhys Welbourn said the agreement reflected a mature commercial relationship and shared confidence in Waitohi Picton as the right base for StraitNZ’s future operations.

“It has been great to work alongside StraitNZ, who have a clear vision for their operations and see Port Marlborough as a long-term strategic partner in their supply chain solutions for freight and passengers across Aotearoa. The agreement allows us to focus on delivering for our customers while planning with confidence for the decades ahead.”

StraitNZ chief executive Shane McMahon welcomed the agreement as an important step in supporting long-term operations and growth.

“The extension of this agreement with our valued partners at Port Marlborough demonstrates StraitNZ Bluebridge’s ongoing commitment to the critical Cook Strait link in Picton and we are excited by the opportunities ahead.”

StraitNZ operates two Bluebridge-branded ro-paxes between Wellington and Picton, each offering two sailings per day.

Late last year StraitNZ was placed on the market by owners Morgan Stanley but nothing has been heard since the original announcement.

Separately the rail/ro-pax Vega, formerly operated by StraitNZ rival KiwiRail’s Interisland Line as Aratere, remains at anchor off Nelson two months after a sale to Indian shipbreakers.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand has voiced its concern regarding the welfare of allegedly underpaid seafarers on board the vessel, with national secretary Carl Findlay calling on Maritime New Zealand “to conduct an immediate, independent welfare check on all crew members to ensure they are safe, paid correctly, and have the option to be repatriated if they wish to leave the vessel”.

Contracts obtained by the Union confirm the vessel is currently registered to Jahaj Solutions (F.Z.E), based in U.A.E., and crew agreements viewed by the Union reveal that an Able Seaman on board is being paid a basic wage of just US$206 per month. This is significantly below the ILO minimum basic wage for an Able Seafarer, which rose to US$690 per month on 1 January 2026.

Even with overtime and allowances included, the total monthly pay for an Able Seaman is only US$550, still far below accepted international minimums, MUNZ said. While the vessel’s agents and Master have claimed the crew are in good health and that provisions are being supplied, Mr Findlay said there needed to be independent verification.

Vega’s delayed departure has been attributed to paperwork difficulties in India.