StraitNZ Bluebridge has locked in its Cook Strait operations at Picton through to 2064 after signing a 39-year commercial agreement with Port Marlborough.
The long-term deal provides certainty for Bluebridge’s freight and passenger services between Picton and Wellington and confirms Picton as the ferry operator’s base for the next four decades.
Port Marlborough chief executive Rhys Welbourn says the agreement reflects a “mature commercial relationship” between the two organisations.
“It has been great to work alongside StraitNZ, who have a clear vision for their operations and see Port Marlborough as a long-term strategic partner in their supply chain solutions for freight and passengers across Aotearoa,” Welbourn says.
“The agreement allows us to focus on delivering for our customers while planning with confidence for the decades ahead.”
StraitNZ chief executive Shane McMahon says the deal reinforces Bluebridge’s commitment to the Cook Strait route.
“The extension of this agreement with our valued partners at Port Marlborough demonstrates StraitNZ Bluebridge’s ongoing commitment to the critical Cook Strait link in Picton and we are excited by the opportunities ahead,” McMahon says.
The agreement is expected to enable coordinated long-term planning between the port and ferry operator, supporting investment confidence and continuity of service across Cook Strait.
Port Marlborough is a key maritime gateway, facilitating the State Highway 1 inter-island link and the movement of South Island trade. Operating from Picton, Havelock, Waikawa and remote Marlborough Sounds sites, it provides logistics, marine, port and marina services to a wide range of industries including inter-island ferries, export cargo, tourism, cruise, aquaculture, forestry and the wider marine sector.
The port handles more than 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually and operates one of the largest marina businesses in the Southern Hemisphere through its subsidiary, Marlborough Sounds Marinas. It also manages pilotage, towage and berthing logistics for shipping throughout the Marlborough Sounds.
Bluebridge holds around 50% of the Cook Strait freight market and more than 30% of the passenger market.
