More problems for replacement Interislander ferry

The Stena Alegra, the replacement Interislander ferry for the crippled Aratere, returns to port after breaking down. Photo / SNPA/Ross Setford

Interislander's troubled replacement ship Stena Alegra has run into more problems.

KiwiRail advised today it had been forced to cancel the ship's sailings yesterday and today due to a "spike in illness among crew''.

All affected passengers were contacted and transferred to alternative sailings, it said. Freight crossings had also been changed.

Today's announcement comes less than a month after the ferry was sidelined for repairs when its hull was damaged in bad weather at the Wellington Ferry terminal.

In January, less than a week after it made its first Cook Strait crossing, it broke down after suffering a partial loss of power while leaving Wellington.

The ship is being used by Interislander while the Aratere, which lost a propeller while crossing the Cook Strait in November, undergoes repairs.

Interislander general manager Thomas Davis today said nine crew members of the Stena Alegra were absent due to sickness.

They were from different parts of the staff, he said.

"While we strive at all times to keep to our timetables and minimise disruption to passengers and freight, strict international and local maritime agreements on minimum manning and muster levels apply in these situations to ensure the safety of our crew and passengers.''

Today's 3.30am Wellington to Picton freight sailing, and the ship's return 9.05am Picton to Wellington passenger sailing had been cancelled.

The same sailings for tomorrow had also been cancelled.