Kiwi Rail's newly lengthened rail/passenger ferry Aratere berthing at Wellington following her redelivery voyage from Singapore on Friday 23 September 2011.
The extension and refurbishment over five months at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore involved the insertion of a new 30 metre-long midsection as well as a new stern profile, a new bow, new generators, and a total interior refurbishment.
The NZD53.8 million project increased Aratere’s length from 150 to 183.69 metres and increased her tonnage from 12,596 to 17,816 gt.
Aratere is now capable of carrying 650 passengers, double her previous capacity, five more trucks and eight more rail wagons, increasing the total number of each to 28.
The ferry is now the longest in Interislander's fleet of three but the Kaitaki is still the largest in terms of capacity, with capacity for 1600 passengers.