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Posted by Dale Crisp
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27 May, 2026
THE REDUNDANT former KiwiRail rail/ro-pax Vega looks set to depart for the breakers’ beach in India after export/import paperwork was finally completed and accepted.
KiwiRail withdrew Aratere last August after deciding to cease carrying rail traffic in order to enable work to begin at Cook Strait terminal ports Wellington and Picton to modify infrastructure to suit newbuildings due from China in 2029.
Aratere was sold by KiwiRail to UAE intermediaries Jahaj Solutions FZE, with management by GR Shipping Pte Ltd of Singapore, and placed under the St Kitts & Nevis flag.
However, while destined for Alang the renamed Vega has remained anchored in Tasman Bay, Nelson since December reportedly awaiting Indian import clearances, without which New Zealand would not grant export licences.
The ship has made occasional trips into Nelson stores and to discharge rubbish but with the same international crew onboard throughout, concerns arose for their welfare, but regular Maritime NZ checks found no breaches of conventions.
Jahaj Solutions said 10 crewmembers had been repatriated in recent months but the rest had decided to stay aboard. Given Vega’s flag it did not fall under NZ age and labour laws. The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed it is receipt of the necessary paperwork and has issued the necessary export permit, valid until May 2027.
Vega is expected to berth in Wellington tomorrow [28 May] to take on bunkers and sail, finally, for India on Saturday.
Earlier this month KiwiRail was fined hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Wellington District Court after the company pled guilty to charges laid by Maritime New Zealand over the 2024 grounding of Aratere.
The ferry slid up on rocks at the base of a cliff at Titoki Bay in Picton Harbour on 21 June 2024 during a night sailing from Picton to Wellington. At the time there were 39 crew and 8 passengers aboard, none of whom was injured.
A Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigation found the grounding followed changes to a safety critical steering system on Aratere.
In June 2025 Maritime NZ prosecuted KiwiRail for breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the company pled guilty to charges under sections 48 and 36. On 4 May KiwiRail was ordered by the judge to pay a fine of NZ$375,000 and $25,000 costs.
