COOK Strait’s only rail/ro-pax will be withdrawn at the end of August as owner KiwiRail opts to save the cost of a planned Singapore drydocking.
KiwiRail and the NZ Government on 30 April announced the retirement of 1999-built Aratere, saying it would be taken out of service this year to make way for the rebuilding of the dedicated rail-enable Picton berth required for the introduction of Ferry Holdings’ two new rail/ro-paxes in 2029.
“Aratere requires specific loading and unloading infrastructure so it cannot use the other Interislander wharf in Picton. Building a temporary berth for Aratere would be too expensive in a project where tight cost control is a priority, and risks delaying the necessary infrastructure work in Picton,” chief executive Peter Reidy said at the time.
It had been planned to have Aratere go to Singapore at the end of June, but yesterday [19 May] Interislander EGM Duncan Roy said Kaiarahi would now go in its place and upon its return to Cook Strait, expected in mid-late August, Aratere will retire from service.
“Interislander’s transition from a three to two-ship fleet has a number of implications for the company and for our customers,” Mr Roy said.
“The first impact is on our dedicated team and a formal consultation will begin with them. There are also impacts on our valued freight and commercial customers, and for the public.
“In the last few weeks, we have talked to our customers and others and confirmed a new two-ship timetable and the co-ordinating rail timetable. We have also been developing our plan for successful “road bridging” during the transition period to the new rail-enabled ships and this work, including new equipment purchase and additional staffing, is on-track.
“More than 2200 passenger bookings have now been transferred from Aratere to Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. If the replacement bookings do not suit customers, they can change the sailing without incurring any change fee or receive a full refund. Holders of more than 2500 passenger bookings affected by a change in departure time with the move to the new two-ship timetable have also been notified of their new departure time.
“Our website and call centre have now re-opened for all bookings for the period from 9 September onwards. Anyone who needs to speak to our customer representatives and does not have time to wait can choose the callback option and will not lose their place in the queue.
“Freight customers will be contacted again from today to lock in their freight requirements.”
Mr Roy said that during the transition period to the new ferries passengers may have to travel at less popular times or be more flexible about the dates they travel and early booking for the summer period is recommended.
“Interislander ferries are New Zealanders’ ferries. Aratere has been a workhorse of Cook Strait since arriving in 1999. While we will be sorry to see her go, it is a necessary step towards the arrival of new, bigger, more fuel-efficient rail-enabled ferries in 2029 which together will have more passenger capacity than the current three ships,” Mr Roy said.
While Aratere’s retirement will enable Picton work to begin as soon as October, local commentators have queried the likely impact on NZ’s freight rail system of a four-year absence of rail ferry capability, noting that despite government assurances no designs have been completed nor orders placed for tri-modal vessels; “a lot can change before construction is irreversible,” DCN was told.