Cook Strait ferry woes: Passengers face delays, ship strikes Picton wharf

Cook Strait ferries are facing cancellations and delays due to damage caused by a ship striking Picton wharf today.

Strait NZ commercial manager Ed Menzies confirmed one of its vessels clipped the berth while docking earlier this morning.

Truck drivers had been told the accident had damaged a ramp, meaning the ferry could not unload its cargo.

The Strait Feronia, which ferries vehicles and passengers between Wellington and Picton, had to return to Wellington without unloading at Picton after the accident this morning.

The Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries website said 2pm and 7pm sailings from Picton and 1.30pm and 8.45pm sailings from Wellington had been cancelled.

The incident has left dozens of trucks - some full of fresh produce - unable to get to their destinations.

A witness at the Picton end said he was stuck in a queue of trucks, and had been waiting since 8am.

Marine radar showed at 4.15pm the Strait Feronia was berthed back in Wellington, while Bluebridge's Straitsman - which had been delayed in the harbour - was now docked in Picton.

Interislander ferries were unaffected, the Herald was told.

A driver who had been waiting on the Picton side for his truck to arrive since 11pm last night had been told people were scrambling to get their vehicles onto the Interislander but that service was already fully booked.

He understood strong winds last night may have been the cause of the ferry clipping the berth.

The long queue of vehicles waiting at the Picton terminal. Photo / Supplied