Salvors successfully refloated the Interislander ferry Aratere on Saturday night after it ran aground in Titoki Bay, New Zealand on Friday. The 18,000 GT ferry had departed Picton on a routine run, but went aground about half an hour after leaving her berth. Fortunately, no flooding or pollution occurred, and the crew and divers on board were unharmed.
A dive inspection confirmed the vessel was safe to refloat, and with the assistance of tugs and ballast adjustments, Aratere was successfully refloated on Saturday night. The local council will conduct environmental surveys to assess any damage to marine habitat at the grounding site.
Following the incident, Maritime NZ detained the Aratere for inspection to determine the cause of the loss of steerage. KiwiRail, the operator, is cooperating with the investigation, which is expected to take several months to complete. The incident raises concerns about the maintenance of KiwiRail’s ferry fleet, which has a history of breakdowns and is nearing the end of its useful life.
More Stories
India and Maldives Strengthen Bilateral Ties with Economic and Maritime Security Partnership
Indians Make Up 10% of Global Seafarers
First Autonomous Electric Ferry Trial Completed in Sweden