Battle lines are being redrawn on New Zealand's Cook Strait, with Strait Shipping taking delivery of its newly purchased 186-metre Bluebridge freight and passenger service ferry, 'Strait Feronia'.
A considerable size increase on the 'Santa Regina' (137 metres) which it will be replacing, and the 'Straitsman' (124.9 metres) that it will be joining in service later this month, the 21,856GT 'Strait Feronia' has a cargo lane capacity of 2,150 metres and can carry 100 cars and 500 passengers.
Strait Shipping managing director Sheryl Ellison said the New Zealand-registered ship marked an exciting step forward for the company.
"We are delighted to have secured this ship after a global search and it is great to have her finally arrive in New Zealand," she said.
"The 'Strait Feronia' complements our other vessel, the 'Straitsman', and is perfectly suited to meeting the increasing demand for freight and passenger space on the Cook Strait."
Having previously plied its trade between Gothenburg (Sweden) and Kiel (Germany), the vessel has undergone significant upgrades while in a Swedish dry-dock. In addition to being painted in Bluebridge's distinctive blue and white livery, this work has entailed a complete refurbishment of its main passenger area and addition of new or upgraded radars and other bridge equipment.
Strait Shipping's crew have been given particular familiarisation with the vessel, both onboard during operation in Europe and then on the 11,675-nautical mile and 45-day sailing from Landskrona (Sweden) to Wellington.
Furthermore, Strait Shipping commissioned Queensland-based Smart Ship to develop a Strait Feronia-specific simulator, tailored to the particularly-ferocious conditions that can be encountered on Cook Strait.
In preparation for the vessel – which can accommodate 130 more passengers and has an additional 850 metres cargo lane capacity than its predecessor – CentrePort Wellington itself has invested in facilities.
This has included additional bollards, fender system enhancements, improved scour protection and widening and lowering of the ramp at Kings Wharf.
Iain MacIntyre
