KiwiRail has announced that its retired Interislander ferry, Aratere, will be sold to a buyer who will deliver the vessel to a specialist recycling shipyard in India.
According to a report by 1News, the ferry, which completed its final Cook Strait crossing in August, had been a part of the Interislander fleet for 26 years. Its retirement comes as Picton port undergoes redevelopment in preparation for two new Cook Strait ferries expected to arrive in 2029.
Duncan Roy, Interislander’s executive general manager, said the decision was driven by the ferry’s age and the need for “significant” modifications or specialist port infrastructure for continued operation. “Therefore, we have pursued a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible recycling option,” he said, 1News reported.
1News reported that KiwiRail conducted thorough due diligence and physical inspections of the shipyard, working closely with the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) throughout the process. Once the buyer takes ownership, it will be responsible for crewing Aratere’s journey to the recycling yard, pending EPA review.
To maximise resource use, appliances, furniture, and other items from Aratere have been repurposed across the Interislander fleet, while any remaining quality items were donated. Roy described the recycling as part of KiwiRail’s transition to modern, larger, and more efficient rail-enabled ferries, 1News reported.
Aratere, which first arrived in New Zealand in the late 1990s, had faced multiple operational challenges, including running aground near Picton in June 2024. Investigations revealed that the ferry’s steering autopilot had been engaged, and staff were unable to disengage it.
With its decommissioning and responsible recycling, Aratere marks the end of an era while paving the way for a new chapter in New Zealand’s ferry fleet.