A new ferry called Livia had arrived in Wellington on Thursday 3rd of July at 8 a.m. The ship will replace the older Strait Feronia, which has been in service since 1997.
The Livia has traveled a long way to get here. It started in Denmark, passed through the Panama Canal, and is now in New Zealand. The ship was originally known as Stena Livia and used to sail between Germany and Latvia. It was first launched in 2008.
Bluebridge says the Livia will be able to carry 10% more vehicles than the old ferry. It will also have space for more passengers once some changes are made.
The ferry was guided into Wellington Harbour by tugboats, watched by onlookers standing on Oriental Bay. There, Bluebridge gave out coffee in special cups, chocolate fish, and even offered a chance to win a free return trip on the new ferry.
The company’s CEO, Shane McMahon, said the Livia is a great fit for sailing across the Cook Strait and that the team already knows how to work with this type of ship.
