The beleaguered Aratere interisland ferry is slowly returning to Wellington after being worked on in Singapore.
InterIslander general manager Thomas Davis said KiwiRail expected the ship to arrive in the first few days of July and the company was now planning for her re-start on the Cook Strait run.
He acknowledged the vessel's return was later than anticipated.
"Given the seriousness of last November's shaft failure, we have adopted a very vigorous approach of reviewing all systems on the ferry, both in terms of repairs and the maintenance programme that was carried out.
"We are taking the approach that the Aratere will only return to service once we are confident that all tests have been passed to the satisfaction of KiwiRail and regulatory authorities," he said.