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Summary
- South Korea based Hyundai Mipo Dockyard selected for building new Interislander ferries by KiwiRail.
- The two new ferries in the pipeline would replace the current fleet of three that inching towards their end.
- Technical and commercial negotiations are going on, and a contract is to be inked by mid-2021.
In a major development, the state-owned KiwiRail has zeroed down on Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (domiciled in South Korea) for building its two Interislander ferries.
As a part of its turnaround plan of becoming a long-term viable transporter, KiwiRail Holdings Limited is constructing two new Interislander ferries.
The contract between Hyundai Mipo Dockyard will be signed sometime in the middle of next year. Meanwhile, the technical and commercial negotiation phase is on. It is proposed that these two new ferries will replace the three existing ones.
Currently, KiwiRail operates three Interislander ferries namely Dev Aratere built in 1998 and entered service in 1999, with a capacity of 600 plus 31 crew, MS Kairahi that entered service in 2014, with a capacity of 550 people and MV Kaitaki that entered service in 2005 and has a capacity of 1,350 people plus 60 crew members.
KiwiRail to replace 3 old Interislander ferries with the 2 new upgraded ones
According to KiwiRail, the current ferries needed to be replaced due to their age and proposed future growth in volumes as well as freight. The new ferries will be bigger, cleaner, and more modern than the current ones. The new ships will be 220 meters long, compared to the current 180 meters. They will provide a maximum capacity of up to 45% more people and freight than the existing fleet.
If technical and commercial negotiations are successful, the construction would begin in 2022 and once commissioned these two ferries would replace three KiwiRail’s Interislander ferries. The new ferries will not only have a larger capacity but also have the most modern components—mostly American and European such as engines propulsion system and navigation system so that those they can last for next three decades.
About the new Interislander project
The budget for the new Interislander project is NZ$ 400 for 2020, pledged by the NZ government, and two new ferries at the terminals and berths are part of the upgradation plan of KiwiRail. Waitohi Picton and Wellington ports will be reconfigured to accommodate the two large new ferries.
The new terminal buildings of the ports will be designed in such a way that they will accommodate both ferry and rail passengers. The terminal will provide a modern consumer experience with state-of-the-art check in.
The new wharf will be 280 meters longer than the present wharves that are 160 meters in and 186 meters long. Further works consist of construction of a seawall and new jetties. The current standing jetties will be dismantled, and other options for new jetties are being explored.
