Temporary replacement found for Interislander ferry Aratere

The Aratere appears out of the fog on its arrival at Wellington Harbour. Photo / File / Mark Mitchell

KiwiRail says it has found a temporary replacement for the Interislander ferry Aratere, which lost a propeller during a Cook Strait crossing earlier this month.

It has chartered the Spanish ferry Stena Alegra to replace the stricken vessel, ensuring it can service passengers and freight customers during the busy summer period.

Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said they were losing about 45 per cent of freight and passenger vehicle capacity as a result of the Aratere being out of service.

With the Stena Alegra, the KiwiRail-owned company would recoup about 35 per cent, helping to minimise disruption until the Aratere was back in service.

The Stena Alegra, which was built in 1998 at the Sevilla Shipyard in Spain, is expected to arrive in New Zealand from Europe by the end of December.

The ship has a passenger capacity of more than 350 and a cargo capacity of about 78 trucks or 325 cars. The passenger capacity of Aratere is 600 and its cargo capacity is 32 rail wagons and 28 trucks.

The Aratere, which recently underwent a $54 million revamp, lost the propeller during a crossing on November 5.

It is expected to be out of service for up to six months.