Bluebridge's Connemara ferry hit and damaged fendering on Waitohi Wharf in Picton while berthing on Tuesday.
Port Marlborough engineers and workshop team have resolved the issue while the troubled vessel waited, anchored in Queen Charlotte Sound.
Picton Harbourmaster Jake Oliver earlier confirmed he had been made aware that a Bluebridge ferry had "made contact" with the wharf, which was being fixed.
StraitNZ Bluebridge spokesperson Will Dady said a strong wind gust caused the Connemara to make contact with fendering (cushioning to prevent a boat being damaged if it makes contact with a dock) on the Picton wharf on Tuesday morning.
Bluebridge ferry the Connemara berthing at Picton wharf, helped by a tug, after earlier hitting the wharf while attempting to berth. Photo: RNZ/Anthony Phelps
There was no damage to the ship but a fender attached to the wharf needed repairs, he said. The ship was delayed from berthing while the repairs were done.
Dady apologised to passengers on board for the inconvenience. They had since disembarked.
An eyewitness told RNZ there was a tug boat with the Connemara as it came into berth the second time.
Meanwhile, a man told RNZ his partner was on board the ferry, which had headed back into the Queen Charlotte Sound after trying to dock.
The Connemara's path on 8 October. Photo: Marine Traffic / supplied
He said the fender chain appeared to have broken when the ferry tried to dock.
Another person who said they were onboard at the time posted on social media that the ship had backed into the wharf.
Marine tracking websites also showed the Connemara in the Queen Charlotte Sound.
In September, the Connemara lost power during a late night sailing and had to be towed back to Wellington Harbour.
It was the latest in a series of disruptions, delays and issues with the country's ferries.
MetService has issued a strong wind watch for both Marlborough and Wellington, with a chance of northwest winds approaching a severe gale in exposed places. The warning was in place in Marlborough from 1pm to 9pm, and from 2pm to midnight in Wellington.
Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said winds had been picking up in the Cook Strait for the past few hours. She said wind speeds had reached an average of 55km/h in the Marlborough region and an average of 95km/h near Wellington Harbour.
Strong winds would persist for the rest of Tuesday, she said.
The Connemara in September after losing power during a sailing in the Cook Strait. Photo: RNZ / Ben Strang
