13 Apr 2022

Cook Strait ferry log jam: travellers forced to cancel at Easter

From Nine To Noon, 9:05 am on 13 April 2022
03052021 NEWS PHOTO MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS SCOTT HAMMOND / STUFF Police search ferries after bomb scare in Picton ferry terminal. Bluebridge is delayed at the dock during the search,

Photo: LDR / STUFF

High demand and a shortage of vessels are putting pressure on Cook Strait ferry services this Easter weekend and into next month. The Interislander's Aratere ferry is unavailable until Anzac weekend. 

It's in dry dock in Sydney for  routine maintenance. The two remaining Interisland ferries, Kaitaki and Valentine, are operating at maximum capacity, forcing bookings to be canceled.

BlueBridge has its Straitsman vessel in for "scheduled servicing" over the Easter period until the second week of May, advising "availability on other sailings is limited over this period".  Kathryn speaks with Interislander's Executive General Manager Walter Rushbrook.