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A ferry that has been at sea for 12 hours due to strong winds has docked at Picton.
A passenger along with hundreds of people aboard a stranded inter-island ferry told Stuff that a new captain had taken over the navigation of the Kaitaki.
At 9:10 p.m., the ferry that was supposed to arrive in Picton at noon successfully docked.
Passengers had received free fish and chips on board and the ferry had “a lot of students on board,” the passenger said.
“There is a lot of concern about driving south once we arrive, as the Kaikōura highway is closing tonight, so we will probably have to take the long route which will add another hour and a half to our already long journey.”
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Interislander CEO Walter Rushbrook said the Kaitaki’s 9 a.m. trip from Wellington to Picton, carrying about 570 passengers, had experienced difficulties docking at Picton due to strong winds Tuesday.
“Our goal is to accommodate passengers and vehicles delayed on trips within the next 24 hours, however safety remains our priority and we will be monitoring conditions closely,” said Rushbrook.
Strong southeastern gales were causing delays for Cook Strait ferries attempting to dock, with winds exceeding 74km / h at Picton Harbor.
Supplied
A tracking map of the Interislander’s movements after it was delayed due to bad weather.
Rushbrook said that part of the Picton terminal had also been damaged by “unusually strong winds.”
Rushbrook said Picton tugs were in a position to assist with the docking if necessary. Passengers were informed of the delays, which also affected subsequent trips.
Two return services were canceled due to weather, and all affected customers were contacted.
Scott Hammond / Stuff
The Interislander waits outside Picton Harbor until it is safe to dock. (File photo)
“We apologize for the inconvenience, however, the safety of our passengers and crew must be our number one priority,” said Rushbrook.
A spokesman for the Bluebridge ferry said strong winds, particularly at Picton, were also causing delays in their trips.
“We are closely monitoring the weather and keeping our customers informed.”
