Working Conditions Aboard the Aratere

**Title: KiwiRail Penalized $375,000 Following 'Aratere' Ferry Grounding Incident** KiwiRail has been mandated to pay a hefty fine of $375,000 after its ferry, originally known as 'Aratere'—now renamed 'Vega'—ran aground in Picton Harbour. The incident, which occurred on the evening of June 21, 2024, involved 47 individuals, consisting of 39 crew members and eight passengers, as the vessel was navigating a freight route between Picton and Wellington. The grounding happened at Titoki Bay shortly after the ferry departed Picton at 9:45 p.m. This mishap followed a significant modification to the ferry's crucial steering system. Consequently, in June 2025, Maritime New Zealand took legal action against KiwiRail, citing violations of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The 'Vega' completed its final journey across the Cook Strait in August 2025, concluding its 26-year service with the Interislander fleet. This retirement was part of preparations for the redevelopment of Picton port, which anticipates the arrival of two new Cook Strait ferries by 2029. An investigation conducted by Maritime NZ revealed critical failures in KiwiRail's change management and organizational controls—specifically concerning training, documentation, control of vital steering functionalities, and bridge resource management. There was a significant knowledge deficit regarding the operation of the newly implemented steering console, particularly in emergency situations. On May 5, 2026, the Wellington District Court sentenced KiwiRail after the company had previously entered a guilty plea to charges under sections 48 and 36 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. As a result, the court not only imposed a fine of $375,000 but also ordered an additional $25,000 in costs, underscoring the importance of stringent safety protocols in maritime operations.

**Title: Cancellation of Vega's Scheduled Entry at Port Nelson** The former Interislander ferry 'Aratere', now known as 'Vega', has missed its recent port booking at Port Nelson due to a cancellation. The vessel has been anchored in Tasman Bay for nearly four months with a crew of 20 members from India on board and is currently awaiting water and supplies. Despite its absence from the schedule, 'Vega' has re-emerged in the shipping calendar for a potential entry into Port Nelson next week, although this timeline remains tentative. Maritime New Zealand (Maritime NZ) had initially planned for an inspector to board the ferry before the booking was called off. Since the cancellation, there has been no update from Maritime NZ on the vessel's entry. The logistics of port movements and bookings are being handled by the vessel's agent, Inchcape Shipping Services, and the port authorities. Notably, New Zealand's employment laws and wage regulations do not extend to this ship, as it is registered under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Maritime Union of New Zealand has raised concerns regarding crew wages, which they believe fall below International Labour Organization standards. Maritime NZ has been frequently in contact with 'Vega', her operators, and the flag state to ensure adherence to international regulations regarding crew welfare. Reassurances from the ship's master and agent have outlined that the crew's welfare, including pay, is being managed correctly, which aligns with information received during prior inspections in March. The ferry, which KiwiRail officially retired in August 2025, was sold to Jahaj Solutions (F.Z.E) in October and is slated for dismantling at a shipbreaking yard in India. Since early December, it has had its Interislander branding removed and remains anchored in Tasman Bay. The delay in its departure from New Zealand has been attributed to complications with the necessary paperwork for entry into India. In February, the Environmental Protection Authority confirmed that the application for the ship's export had been finalized.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has raised concerns about the welfare and pay of crew members aboard the former Interislander ferry 'Aratere', now registered as 'Vega', which has been anchored in Tasman Bay for more than 50 days. The vessel was still awaiting the permission to sail to India for dismantling..According to the union, crew members have been on board for nearly two months while the vessel remained at anchor The .MUNZ has called on Maritime New Zealand to carry out an independent welfare inspection to ensure the crew was safe, properly paid and able to seek repatriation if they wished . The MUNZ had received reports regarding the wellbeing of those on board. Contracts reviewed by the union showed that the vessel was registered to the Jahaj Solutions (F.Z.E), a company based in the UAE. The union stated that documents indicated an able seaman on board was receiving a basic wage of US$206 per month, while the International Labour Organization (ILO) minimum basic wage for an able seafarer increased to US$690 per month from Jan 1, 2026. Even with overtime and allowances, the total monthly pay for an able seaman was reported to be US$550, which remained below accepted international minimum standards. The master and the agents had reported that the crew were in good health and that adequate provisions were being supplied. However, there was no independent verification. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) stated that it was taking the crew welfare seriously and continued to monitor the situation. There was currently no specific action underway or planned for the 'Vega'. MNZ was making general enquiries with crew and relevant authorities regarding their wellbeing. The delay in the vessel’s departure related to regulatory approvals required for export and import. KiwiRail announced last October that it had agreed to sell the 'Aratere' to a buyer who would deliver the vessel to a specialist recycling yard in India. Once the ownership was transferred, the responsibility for crewing the vessel and managing its voyage to the recycling yard rested with the buyer, subject to review by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which confirmed that the export application from New Zealand was complete, and relevant documents have been provided to the Indian Competent Authority. The export process could not be finalised until an import consent was granted by the Indian authorities. The EPA continued to follow up on the progress and would provide additional information where required. The vessel remained under the responsibility of the company that purchased it and was expected to depart once the necessary import consent has been obtained, for which no timeline was available yet.

The former Kiwirail ferry 'Aratere' has been renamed 'Vega' after having been decommissioned and still awaiting her final journey to the scrapyard in India. As of Dec 11, the ship remained anchored in pos. 41° 10' N 173° 17' E off Nelson.

sold to Breakers 10.10.25

KiwiRail has agreed to sell the 'Aratere' to a buyer, which will deliver it to a specialist recycling shipyard in India. The ferry was retired in August to make way for the port infrastructure needed for the arrival of two new rail enabled ferries which are due to be delivered in 2029. As the 'Aratere' was not deemed suitable for most ferry operators due to its age and would require significant modification or specialist port infrastructure, Kiwiral has pursued a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible recycling option. Interislander has been working closely with the Environmental Protection Authority throughout the process. In April, Rail Minister Winston Peters had announced it would be retired due to it being the only ferry where rail freight could roll on and off it, which meant it couldn't be use at another wharf in Picton while port upgrades there and in Wellington are underway for the new ferries. It would have cost $120 million to keep the 'Aratere' in service. Once the buyer takes ownership of the ferry, it will be responsible for crewing its journey to the recycling yard subject to review by the EPA, was is pending. KiwiRail has repurposed appliances, furniture, and other items from the 'Aratere' across its fleet and operations, while some items have been donated. The ship has been berthed in Wellington since Aug 18.

The 'Aratere' will make its final sailing from Picton on Aug 18 at 11 a.m., after 26 years of service. Major infrastructure work in Picton will then commence to prepare for the arrival of new rail-enabled ferries in 2029. The 'Kaiārahi' is returning from dry-dock in Singapore to replace the 'Aratere' after completing the scheduled maintenance. No booking changes will be required for freight customers or passengers as a new two-ship timetable is already in place. Switching from three ships to two ships, the 'Kaitaki' and the 'Kaiārahi', will have a big impact on staff, passengers and freight. The capacity of the two new ferries will be larger than the current fleet of three ships as a necessary step towards a more efficient and sustainable future. The 'Aratere' crew will send the ship off in a private event in early September.

Maritime NZ has filed two charges against KiwiRail in connection with the grounding of the 'Aratere' on June 21, 2024, which occurred north of Picton with 47 people on-board, after an investigation into the accident of the Interislander ferry. The charges related to failures by the operator to keep crew and passengers safe while on-board the ferry. They were filed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The investigation has looked at systems, policies and procedures and culture, within KiwiRail in relation to the incident, during which a ignificant number of interviews were conducted, and a substantial amount of evidence collated.

The 'Aratere' broke down on its way to Wellington on the night of June 11. The ferry left Picton at about 8.50 p.m., but then experienced an issue with its propulsion drive. Seven commercial vehicle drivers and four foot passengers were on board the ferry while it was anchored for hours, waiting for a specialist electrician to arrive. The issue was fixed at about 1 a.m.. and the vessel resumed its trip to Wellington, with a new ETA as of June 12, 5 a.m. Kiwirail had to cancel the 6.15 a.m. departure from Wellington to Picton and the 11.00 a.m. crossing from Picton to Wellington and also the 4 p.m. sailing, as the search for the cause of the problem was continued. Interislander's customer service teams were amending bookings due to these cancellations. All affected customers were offered an alternative sailing. If the alternative sailing was not suitable, passengers could reschedule for no additional cost.

KiwiRail has confirmed that the 'Aratere' will be retiring no later than Aug 30 after it was revealed at the end of April that the ferry would be pulled from service on the Cook Strait this year, to make way for the required Picton port re-development in preparation for the two brand-new Cook Strait ferries arriving in 2029. Work on Picton wharf could begin as soon as October, and no later than March 2026. The vessel, which had served the Cook Strait since 1999, required specific loading and unloading infrastructure so it could not use the other Interislander wharf in Picton. KiwiRail has talked to customers and has confirmed a new two-ship timetable and coordinating rail timetable, as well as developing a plan for road bridging during the transition to the new rail-enabled ships. More than 2200 passenger bookings have now been transferred from the 'Aratere' to the 'Kaitaki' and 'Kaiārahi'. If replacement bookings do not suit customers, they can change their booking without any change fee or receive a full refund. Holders of more than 2500 passenger bookings affected by a change in departure time with the move to the new two-ship timetable have also been notified of their new departure time. Freight customers will be contacted from May 20 to lock in their freight requirements.