After 26 years of service, the Interislander ferry Aratere will be sent to a specialist ship recycling yard in India.
The ferry, which last crossed Cook Strait in August, is being retired to make way for two new ferries set to arrive in 2029 as part of major changes to Picton port.
KiwiRail states that the Aratere was not a suitable fit for other ferry operators due to its age and the extensive work required to make it suitable for use elsewhere. Instead, it will be carefully taken apart and recycled in an environmentally responsible way.
The company has worked closely with New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to make sure the process is safe. Once the ferry is handed over, the new owner will sail it to India, with the EPA still reviewing the final journey.
Parts from the Aratere, like furniture and equipment, have already been reused on other ferries, and anything still in good condition has been donated.
Duncan Roy from Interislander said this is part of a bigger plan to modernise the ferry service with larger, more efficient ships that can carry trains as well as vehicles and people.
The Aratere, which arrived in New Zealand in the late 1990s, had several issues during its service. One of the most serious was in June 2024, when it ran aground near Picton. An investigation found the steering system was stuck on autopilot, and the crew couldn’t turn it off.
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