Aratere is a roll-on/roll-off rail and vehicle ferry operated by KiwiRail in New Zealand. Built in 1998 for the then-private company Tranz Rail and lengthened in 2011, she operated four daily crossings on the Interislander service across Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton each day (with six crossings over the December/January period).
As of 2024[update], Aratere is New Zealand's only rail ferry.[3] When the vessel is not available, rail freight between the North and South Islands must be transferred to trucks, driven onto other Cook Strait ferries, and then transferred back to rail after the crossing, with associated additional time and cost.[4] In April 2025, KiwiRail confirmed plans to retire the Aratere by the end of 2025 to make way for ferry support infrastructure in Picton.[5]
Construction
In 1997, Tranz Rail ordered a new ferry to replace Aratika. The shipbuilding contract for the new vessel, named Aratere, was awarded to Hijos de J. Barreras in Vigo, Spain.[6] She was laid down in November 1997 and launched on 8 September 1998. The vessel was handed over to Tranz Rail on 16 December 1998.[6]
History
Aratere departed Spain for New Zealand on 16 December 1998. Her voyage took longer than anticipated. On 20 December, fuses on the starboard motors blew. When the replacement fuses were fitted, they blew as well. The following day, the couplings connecting the gearboxes with the port motors failed, leaving Aratere adrift in the South Atlantic. The couplings were removed from the starboard motor and used for the port ones.[7]
In 2011, Aratere underwent a $52 million refit at the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore,[8] increasing her capacity from 360 to 600 passengers. The refit included a new bow. The ship was lengthened by cutting her in half to insert a new 30-metre (98ft) midsection.[9]
Incidents
Aratere has been involved in several technical problems and engine failures over her years in service. There is no official relationship between these incidents, though the media have stoked speculation that the ferry may be jinxed and she has earned the nickname "El Lemon".[10][11]
5 July 2003 – Aratere collided with a moored fishing vessel in Wellington Harbour.[14]
1 October 2004 – "30 seconds of potential disaster" after Aratere had a steering fault in the Marlborough Sounds.[15]
10 February 2005 – Aratere was detained after a "crisis of confidence" with inspectors noting that she had arrived from Spain six years earlier in a shocking state. They could no longer allow her to operate as she was.[16] She was eventually allowed to sail again on 15 March.[17][18]
On 5 November 2013, Aratere snapped a drive shaft, losing a propeller in Cook Strait. This initially forced the ship out of service, causing disruption to Interislander schedules. As a replacement propeller was required and had to be shipped from Europe, the Aratere was out of service for some time.[19][20] Subsequently, the ship was allowed to make freight only crossings with only one propeller for propulsion.[21]
Aratere's ECDIS shows its premature turn into the bay
21 June 2024 – Aratere made a premature turn to a waypoint shortly after leaving Picton harbour and ran aground. She was refloated at 9pm the next night by the Maungatea and Monowai tugs as well as with her own engines 24 hours after the incident occurred.[22][23] On 11 July, Acting-Prime MinisterWinston Peters alleged that KiwiRail had covered up the cause of the Aratere's grounding and claimed that a crew member had left the boat on autopilot while having a cup of coffee. Peters' allegations were disputed by Interislander operations general manager Duncan Roy. Interislander subsequently acknowledged that a crew member had prematurely selected a turn that caused the ferry to sail directly to Titoki Bay, nearly a nautical mile away from a shore point called "The Snout."[24]
Retirement
On 30 April 2025, KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reid confirmed that the Aratere would be retired by the end of 2025 to facilitate work to demolish Picton's wharf infrastructure in anticipation of the two new Cook Strait ferries expected to be delivered in 2029. The wharf infrastructure would be replaced by new specific loading and unloading infrastructure that could not be used on the Aratere. Since the Aratere is the only rail-enabled ferry in KiwiRail's fleet, the company would use road-bridging on the MV Kaitaki and MS Kaiarahi in the interim until the new ferries arrive.[5]
On 19 May 2025, KiwiRail announced that Aratere would be retired by 30 August 2025.[25] In response to the planned decommissioning of the Aratere, KiwiRail announced that it was proposing eliminating 70 jobs aboard the ferry's deck and catering departments.[26]
On 7 August 2025, KiwiRail confirmed that the Aratere would retire on 18 August. The MS Kaiarahi would return from drydock maintenance and begin operating on a new schedule, with the Aratere's last sailing being the 11:00 am departure from Picton.[27]Aratere retired as scheduled on 18 August.[1]
Layout
Profile of Aratere in 2009, prior to her lengthening
Aratere has both rail and vehicle decks. These can be loaded simultaneously through the stern via a double linkspan. A lower hold has additional space for cars, though access to this hold was blocked off after the refit in Singapore.[28]
Aratere operated up to six crossings of the Cook Strait each day. In late 2009, Aratere celebrated her 20,000th crossing, having travelled around 2 million kilometres.[29]
Upon retirement Aratere celebrated a record 53,000 crossings and has carried more than 5 million passengers.[30]
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