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DEV Aratere

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DEV Aratere in Tory Channel, June 2018
History
NameDEV Aratere
OwnerKiwiRail
OperatorInterislander
Port of registryWellington,  New Zealand
RouteWellington to Picton
BuilderHijos de J. Barreras, Spain
CostNZ$132 million
Yard number1570
Launched8 September 1998
Christened1999
Completed15 December 1998
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 12,596 GT (original)
  • 17,816 GT (current)
Length
  • 150 m (492 ft 2 in)
  • 183.5 m (602 ft 0.4 in) (current)
Beam20.5 m (67 ft 3.1 in)
Draft5.5 m (18 ft 0.5 in)
Decks6
Installed power
  • Four Wärtsilä 8L32 diesel engines
  • 3680 kilowatts at 750 rpm,
  • Two Wärtsilä 8L20 diesel engines.
  • 1300 kilowatts at 1000 rpm.
PropulsionFixed propellers, each four blades inward turning
Speed19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Capacity
  • 670 passengers
  • 230 cars or 30 trucks (800 tonnes)
  • 32 rail wagons (1,700 tonnes)[1]
Crew31

DEV Aratere is a roll-on/roll-off rail and vehicle ferry operated by KiwiRail in New Zealand. Built in 1998 for the then private company Tranz Rail and lengthened in 2011, she operates four daily crossings on the Interislander service across Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton each day (with six crossings over the December/January period).

Construction

In 1997, Tranz Rail ordered a new ferry to replace the Aratika. The shipbuilding contract for the new vessel, named Aratere, was awarded to Hijos de J. Barreras in Vigo, Spain.[2] She was laid down in November 1997 and launched on September 8, 1998, just under a year later, being handed over to Tranz Rail on December 16, 1998.[3]

History

Aratere departed Spain for New Zealand on December 16, 1998. Her voyage took longer than anticipated. On December 20, fuses on the Starboard Motors blew. When the replacement fuses were fitted, they blew as well. The following day, the Couplings connecting the Gearboxes with the Port Motors failed, leaving Aratere adrift in the South Atlantic. The couplings were removed from the Starboard Motor and used for the Port Ones. [4] In 2011, Aratere underwent a $52 million refit at the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore,[5] increasing her capacity from 360 to 600 passengers. The refit included a new bow and stern. The ship was lengthened by cutting it in half to insert a new 30-metre (98 ft) midsection.[6]

Incidents

Aratere has been involved in several technical problems and engine failures over her years in service. There is no official relationship between these incidents, though the media have stoked speculation that the ferry may be jinxed and she has earned the nickname "El Lemon".[7][8]

  • 24 February 1999 - An engine failure.[9]
  • 18 December 2000 - An engine malfunction.[10]
  • 1 October 2004 - "30 seconds of potential disaster" after Aratere had a steering fault in the Marlborough Sounds.[11]
  • 10 February 2005 - Aratere was detained after a "crisis of confidence" with inspectors noting that she had arrived from Spain six years earlier in a shocking state. They could no longer allow her to operate as she was [12] She was eventually allowed to sail again on 15 March.[13][14]
  • After the extensive refit carried out in Singapore in 2011, she has once again experienced numerous incidents, including engine failures.[15] On 2 November 2011 Maritime NZ ordered the ship to stop operating until proven safe.[16]
  • On 5 November 2013, Aratere snapped a drive shaft, losing a propeller in Cook Strait. This initially forced the ship out of service, causing disruption to Interislander schedules.[17][18] Subsequently, the ship was allowed to make freight only crossings with only one propeller for propulsion.[19]

Layout

Profile of Aratere in 2009, prior to her lengthening

Aratere has both rail and vehicle decks. These can be loaded simultaneously through the stern via a double linkspan. A lower hold has additional space for cars, though access to this hold was blocked off after the refit in Singapore.[20]

Aratere has six decks.[20]

  • Deck 1 - Engine and propulsion rooms
  • Deck 2 - Rail deck
  • Deck 3 - Road vehicle deck
  • Deck 4 - Bar, Foodcourt, Shop, Lounge, Deck Access
  • Deck 5 - Premium Lounge, Drivers Accommodation, Deck Access including outdoor seating.
  • Deck 6 - Bridge and sun deck

Service

Aratere operates six crossings of the Cook Strait each day (three passenger, three freight). In late 2009, Aratere celebrated her 20,000th crossing, having travelled around 2 million kilometres.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Facts and Figures - Aratere". The Interislander. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Report 99-202. passenger and freight ferry Aratere-power failure, Wellington Harbour, 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  3. ^ "Report 99-202. passenger and freight ferry Aratere-power failure, Wellington Harbour, 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  4. ^ "Report 99-202 passenger and freight ferry Aratere power failure Wellington Harbour 24 February 1999" (PDF). Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
  5. ^ "Aratere arriving in Wellington". Dominion Post. Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  6. ^ "World rolling stock market October 2010". Railway Gazette International. 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Strait ferries weigh on government books". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  8. ^ "El Lemon". New Zealand History Online. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Breakdown sees safety authority detain new ferry". The New Zealand Herald. 25 February 1999. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  10. ^ "Cook Strait Ferry Aratere Back in Service". The New Zealand Herald. 22 December 2000. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  11. ^ "Aratere mishaps exposed serious failings". The New Zealand Herald. 17 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Aratere ruled unfit for people". The Dominion Post. 11 February 2005. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  13. ^ "Aratere ferry to sail under conditions". Maritime New Zealand. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Aratere sailing conditions expected to be lifted Monday". Maritime New Zealand. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Aratere barred from sailing over engine trouble". Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  16. ^ Gillies, Abby (2 November 2011). "Maritime NZ halts ferry sailings". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  17. ^ Aratere out of action for six months Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. 3 News NZ. 14 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Cook Strait ferry Aratere out of action again". The New Zealand Herald. 6 November 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  19. ^ Donahue, Tim (9 December 2013). "Crippled Aratere to set sail again". Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Aratere". NZ National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Staff Newsletter - Aratere completes 20,000th crossing" (PDF). The Express. No. 16. KiwiRail. 15 October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
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