Ferry rivals splash out on new craft

Q-West is set to employ additional staff to help construct the two new Fullers ferries.

Waiheke Island residents are thrilled two ferry operators have ordered more vessels to meet a growing demand from visitors and commuters.

As Fullers prepares to add two new ferries to its long-established Auckland-Waiheke run over the next 18 months, newcomer Explore expects to welcome a third vessel as early as December.

Although it will be a smaller boat than its existing ferries, with 144 seats compared with 240 on each of the other two, Explore chief executive Kit Nixon says the $3 million investment would allow it to increase sailings to weekday and weekend schedules.

As he prepares to celebrate his company's first anniversary on the Waiheke run over Labour weekend, he expects the island's passenger market to continue to grow - spurred by promotional support from Auckland Council's tourism arm Ateed.

He believes his company has already captured more than 25 per cent of an annual market of about 2 million passenger trips.

Fullers is meanwhile spending $16 million on vessels each capable of carrying 360 passengers under cover and up to 420 in fine weather.

The first of those ferries, modelled on its existing 330-seater Kotuku and being built at the same Wanganui boat yard, will arrive in October next year and the second in April 2017.

That will allow it to retire an "overflow" vessel, the Jet Raider, initially and then its 650-seat Quick Cat, after more than 28 years' service, while increasing the frequency of sailings.

Fullers' other big Waiheke workhorse, the similar-sized Superflyte, will be kept on as a back-up vessel to the three newer vessels after 20 years on the run.

Explore offers a one-way fare of $20 compared with Fullers' $22. Photo / Supplied

Company chief executive Doug Hudson says the upgraded fleet will allow Fullers to increase the span of half-hour departures to most of each day, compared with just at peak times now, while also meeting passengers' expectations of greater standardisation of the fleet.

Waiheke Ferry Users' Group chairman Daniel Silva said yesterday it was great to see competition on the run "hotting up".

"It's very heartening to see the extra boats - it's proving our best expectations that competition was going to increase the frequency and quality of service," he said.

"The one thing it hasn't done is reduce prices, not yet - but of course the logic of competition is that will happen sooner or later."

Return trips between Auckland and Waiheke cost the same $36 for adults on both services, although Explore offers a one-way fare of $20 compared with Fullers' $22.