KiwiRail has agreed to sell the retired Interislander ferry Aratere to a buyer that will deliver the vessel to a specialist recycling shipyard in India.
Aratere was withdrawn from service in August after 26 years to enable port works ahead of two new rail-enabled ferries due in 2029.
Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy says the ship is unsuitable for most operators because of its age and the need for significant modifications or specialist port infrastructure, so KiwiRail has pursued “a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible recycling option”.
He says KiwiRail has carried out due diligence and physical inspections of the shipyard and has been liaising closely with New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority.
Once the buyer takes ownership, it will be responsible for crewing the voyage to the recycling yard, subject to EPA review, which is pending.
To maximise resource use, KiwiRail has repurposed appliances, furniture and other items from Aratere across its fleet and operations, with remaining quality items donated.
“The responsible recycling of Aratere is part of our transition to the next chapter of modern, efficient, larger rail-enabled ferries,” Roy says.
