Weekend Cook Strait ferry services resume

Operators of the Kaitaki ferry have resumed cancelled ferry crossings this weekend. Photo / supplied

Operators of the Cook Strait ferry Kaitaki have found a captain who can sail morning ferry crossings this weekend after ferry crossings were cancelled due to bad weather and staff illness.

Sailings of the Kaitaki from Wellington at 8.25am and Picton at 1.45pm were cancelled from today until Sunday after several of the ship's masters fell ill. Strong southerly swells have also caused delays.

However, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis said today a captain was now available to sail the 8.25am and 1.45pm services at the weekend.

Mr Davis said yesterday he appreciated the delays were bad for passengers and freight customers.

"We apologise for the delays, and we are working as hard as possible to ensure that those delays are as minimal as possible," he said.

The ferry Arahura will take extra passengers to accommodate those on the cancelled services, he said.

- NZPA