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DEV Aratere

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DEV Aratere in Tory Channel, June 2018
History
NameDEV Aratere
OwnerKiwiRail
OperatorInterislander
Port of registryWellington,  New Zealand
RouteWellington to Picton
BuilderHijos de J. Barreras, Spain
CostNZ$132 million
Yard number1570
Launched8 September 1998
Christened1999
Completed15 December 1998
Identification
StatusSailing, gradual return to service
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 12,596 GT (original)
  • 17,816 GT (current)
Length
  • 150 m (492 ft 2 in)
  • 183.5 m (602 ft 0 in) (current)
Beam20.5 m (67 ft 3 in)
Draft5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Decks6
Installed power
  • Four Wärtsilä 8L32 diesel engines
  • 3,680 kW (4,930 hp) at 750 rpm,
  • Two Wärtsilä 8L20 diesel engines.
  • 1,300 kW (1,700 hp) at 1,000 rpm.
PropulsionFixed propellers, each four blades inward turning
Speed19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Capacity
  • 670 passengers
  • 230 cars or 30 trucks (800 tonnes)
  • 32 rail wagons (1,700 tonnes)[1]
Crew31

DEV 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 operates 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, Aratere is New Zealand's only rail ferry.[2] 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.[3]

Construction

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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.[4] 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.[5]

History

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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.[6]

In 2011, Aratere underwent a $52 million refit at the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore,[7] increasing her capacity from 360 to 600 passengers. The refit included a new bow and stern. The ship was lengthened by cutting her in half to insert a new 30-metre (98 ft) midsection.[8]

Incidents

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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".[9][10]

  • 24 February 1999 – An engine failure.[11]
  • 18 December 2000 – An engine malfunction.[12]
  • 5 July 2003 – Aratere collided with a moored fishing vessel in Wellington Harbour.[13]
  • 1 October 2004 – "30 seconds of potential disaster" after Aratere had a steering fault in the Marlborough Sounds.[14]
  • 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.[15] She was eventually allowed to sail again on 15 March.[16][17]
  • After the extensive refit carried out in Singapore in 2011, she has once again experienced numerous incidents, including engine failures.[18] On 2 November 2011 Maritime NZ ordered the ship to stop operating until proven safe.[19]
  • 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.[20][21] Subsequently, the ship was allowed to make freight only crossings with only one propeller for propulsion.[22]
  • 21 June 2024 – Aratere suffered a steering loss causing her to run aground shortly after leaving Picton harbour. 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.[23][24] On 11 July, Acting-Prime Minister Winston 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."[25]
  • 8 August 2024 – Aratere hits a Wellington linkspan whilst berthing, which caused damage to the hull.[26][27]

Layout

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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 has six decks.[28]

  • Deck 1 – Engine and propulsion rooms
  • Deck 2 – Rail deck
  • Deck 3 – Road vehicle deck
  • Deck 4 – Bar, Foodcourt, Shop, Lounge, Deck Access
  • Deck 5 – Premium Lounge, Drivers Accommodation, Deck Access including outdoor seating.
  • Deck 6 – Bridge and sun deck

Service

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Aratere operates six crossings of the Cook Strait each day (three passenger, three freight). In late 2009, Aratere celebrated her 20,000th crossing, having travelled around 2 million kilometres.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Facts and Figures – Aratere". The Interislander. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Stricken Aratere to be placed under detention order barring it from movement after grounding". RNZ. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Aratere ferry grounding: Trucking body wants assurances from government over inter-island connection". RNZ. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Report 99-202. passenger and freight ferry Aratere-power failure, Wellington Harbour, 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  5. ^ "Report 99-202. passenger and freight ferry Aratere-power failure, Wellington Harbour, 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  6. ^ "Report 99-202 passenger and freight ferry Aratere power failure Wellington Harbour 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  7. ^ "Aratere arriving in Wellington". Dominion Post. Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  8. ^ "World rolling stock market October 2010". Railway Gazette International. 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Strait ferries weigh on government books". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  10. ^ "El Lemon". New Zealand History Online. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  11. ^ "Breakdown sees safety authority detain new ferry". The New Zealand Herald. 25 February 1999. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Cook Strait Ferry Aratere Back in Service". The New Zealand Herald. 22 December 2000. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  13. ^ "passenger freight ferry Aratere, collision with moored fishing vessel San Domenico, Wellington Harbour" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission. 2004. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Aratere mishaps exposed serious failings". The New Zealand Herald. 17 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  15. ^ "Aratere ruled unfit for people". The Dominion Post. 11 February 2005. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  16. ^ "Aratere ferry to sail under conditions". Maritime New Zealand. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  17. ^ "Aratere sailing conditions expected to be lifted Monday". Maritime New Zealand. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  18. ^ "Aratere barred from sailing over engine trouble". Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  19. ^ Gillies, Abby (2 November 2011). "Maritime NZ halts ferry sailings". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  20. ^ "Aratere out of action for six months". 3 News. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Cook Strait ferry Aratere out of action again". The New Zealand Herald. 6 November 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  22. ^ Donahue, Tim (9 December 2013). "Crippled Aratere to set sail again". Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  23. ^ "Interislander ferry runs aground, passengers in lifejackets". The New Zealand Herald. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Interislander ferry successfully refloated". NZ Herald. 22 June 2024. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  25. ^ Hickman, Bill (11 July 2024). "Aratere ferry grounding: Interislander hits back at Winston Peters' claims". RNZ. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Interislander ferry Aratere damaged berthing into Wellington harbour". RNZ. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Interislander Aratere ferry's hull damaged after hitting Wellington linkspan". The New Zealand Herald. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Aratere". NZ National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Staff Newsletter – Aratere completes 20,000th crossing" (PDF). The Express. No. 16. KiwiRail. 15 October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
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