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New Zealand ferry operator Interislander has confirmed that a steering failure had caused the Ro-Pax vessel Aratere to run aground near Picton on South Island late last week. This failure caused the ferry to gradually divert from its intended course and head into the side of a cliff shortly after sailing three kilometres out of Picton at around 21:45 local time on Friday, June 21.
The ferry was on a scheduled freight-only sailing with no passengers at the time of the grounding. It remained afloat with electrical power still circulating, and no injuries were reported among the 39-strong crew and the eight commercial vehicle drivers, who were later disembarked.
Aratere was successfully refloated during high tide at around 21:00 on Sunday, June 23. Local authorities have also assured that there are no signs of pollution.
On Saturday, June 22, Interislander Executive General Manager Duncan Roy confirmed in a press conference that Aratere had completed undergoing an overhaul three weeks prior to the grounding. The works entailed replacement of the steering system and upgrades to some of the existing onboard systems.
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has meanwhile launched an inquiry into the incident. The probe will include recovering electronic records and interviewing crewmembers, passengers, port authorities, and other witnesses.
The grounding is the latest in a series of incidents that have involved Aratere and two other Interislander ferries, Kaitaki and Kaiarahi. In January 2023, Kaitaki lost power during a storm as it was entering Wellington Harbour. The following November, Kaiarahi suffered a hull breach after it struck a wharf, prompting Interislander to take the vessel out of service for several weeks.
