NEW ZEALAND’s privately-owned Cook Strait ferry operator StraitNZ has sourced a ropax from Europe to replace its 1997-built Strait Ferronia for its Bluebridge service between Wellington and Picton.
With the government still to decide on replacements for its aging KiwiRail Interislander fleet, and no deliveries expected before 2029, StraitNZ Bluebridge has reached agreement to acquire Stena Livia from European based Stena Line as part of what it says is its ongoing investment in Cook Strait infrastructure and capacity.
Currently trading between Germany and Latvia, the vessel is a sister ship to StraitNZ’s Connemara, which began service on Cook Strait in 2023.
StraitNZ Chief Executive Shane McMahon said Bluebridge was delighted to have secured a high-quality vessel as part of its continued commitment to upgrade services for customers using the critical Cook Strait.
“We are familiar with the vessel type and know it is well suited to work on Cook Strait. When we set out to find a suitable vessel replacement a few months ago, we wanted to be able to provide more freight and passenger capacity and Stena Livia delivers both.”
The 2008-built ropax is scheduled to join the Cook Strait fleet in July this year, following a name change and drydock in Europe. The ship will replace Strait Feronia towards the end of the year. Stena Livia, built as Norman Voyager by Italy’s Visentini, is 26,904 GT and has a current capacity for 850 passengers and 195 cars/2,285 lanemetres of freight. It has a service speed of 24 knots.
StraitNZ Bluebridge says it currently holds 50% of the Cook Strait freight market and more than 30% of the passenger market. The new ship will provide a 10% increase in vehicle capacity and will increase Bluebridge passenger capacity significantly with further alterations.
“Bluebridge has invested and grown its Cook Strait fleet for the past 32 years,” Mr. McMahon said.
“Where it makes commercial sense, we will continue to invest in capacity for our customers – both freight and passenger. As a private company this investment is made with no funding from government for vessels or landside infrastructure.”
