Transporting New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s update today regarding the procurement timeframe for the new Interislander ferries.
Transporting New Zealand Policy and Advocacy Lead, Billy Clemens said it was positive that the road freight industry now had some certainty around the Cook Strait connection, including a Christmas deadline for delivery of two new vessels, along with size and rail capability details.
“However, it is frustrating for many of our road freight members that it’s taken so long to get to this point, and that scheduled delivery now sits close to the end of the current fleet’s natural design life,” said Mr Clemens.
“The Government cannot afford further delays. This tight timeframe makes bipartisan support for the current project particularly important.
“Back in June 2024, the Ministerial Advisory Group on Future Ferry Services on the Cook Strait recommended that a contract for new ships be signed by 1 October 2024 at the latest. It noted this would mitigate the risk that ‘potentially advantageous options could be taken up by other operators and lost to the Crown while KiwiRail works to settle the HMD [iReX] claim’.”
Transporting New Zealand also warned that procuring rail-enabled vessels will mean the Government has to keep a close eye on the project budget.
“Transporting New Zealand hasn’t taken a fixed view on rail-enablement vs rail-compatibility, but we have noted that Ministry of Transport advised the Government in December 2023 that the rail-enabled iReX ferries and the associated land-side infrastructure were a key factor in the project’s cost escalation,” said Mr Clemens.
He said Transporting New Zealand looks forward to continuing to work with the Minister for Rail, Ministry of Transport, and KiwiRail to ensure a resilient Cook Strait Connection.
