Naval architects appointed for new Interislander ferries
Kaitaki, one of KiwiRail’s Interislander ferry service vessels, and the other two vessels cross New Zealand’s Cook Strait a combined total of 4000 times a year (Source: KiwiRail)
Danish naval architects OSK-ShipTech A/S have signed a contract with state-owned New Zealand ferry operator KiwiRail for the design and development of two ferries. The railway-enabled ferries will be operated on the Cook Strait route between New Zealand's North and South Islands.
The new ferries will strengthen the transport link between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island. Currently, operating company Interislander is operating a fleet of three ferries - two RoRo passenger vessels and one train ferry. We have also recently appointed the French-based BRS Group as our ship broker to help in the international search for potential suppliers of the vessels," states KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer – Capital Projects & Asset Development, David Gordon.
As part of the project, new terminals tailored to the vessels will also be developed in order to optimise the infrastructure and fully benefit of the new designs. The new train ferries are targeted for delivery in 2024.
