Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
After 26 years plying Cook Strait, the Aratere will be retired after its final sailing from Picton today...leaving two Interislander ferries in the KiwiRail fleet to make the crossing.
The Aratere joined the fleet in 1999, but as the only rail-enabled ferry, it's got to go while port upgrades in Picton and Wellington are undertaken for two new yet-to-be-bought ferries. The Aratere's time in New Zealand wasn't without incident - there were mechanical issues in its first few months, it lost a propeller in the Strait after a mid-body extension and it ran aground near Picton last year.
Joining Kathryn is Duncan Roy, Interislander Executive General Manager who'll be leading ceremonies today as the Aratere departs Picton for the last time.
