Thread: Cook Strait Ferry

When e went to Lyttleton for national service one bloke was so worried about getting sea sick he was crook before we left the wharf.

Reinstating a Wellington - Lyttleton service ( especially for freight & non tourist's ) would be awesome, it makes so much sense that's probably why in the true modern Kiwi sprit it hasn't made a come back.

Prime example was during the Kaikoura earthquake & SH1 was completely buggered, thousands of tons of road freight a day were diverted hundreds of K's instead of sailing direct.

A fast cat from Lyttleton-Wellington would be awesome. Freight and rail etc could still go on the Picton route but let's face it most the people crossing with a vehicle are headed somewhere south of chch anyhow. Been on the Buquebus HSC Francisco from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and back a few times and it's a great service smashes out 270kms between BA and MV in less time than it takes the interislander to go from Wellington to Picton, its also pretty impressive stepping outside and nearly getting blown over because you're doing 100 clicks on a massive ship carry cars and people and restaurants and shops all sorts of stuff!

Interesting https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSC_Francisco

The problem with high speed vessels is the wave wash effect on the shorelines in the Sounds . Thats what restricted the catamaran they used to have to slow speeds - the erosion was immensely more than with a conventional vessel.

If they used it to ply the Wgtn - Lyttleton route that would sweet. But looking at its specs, if would hoover the LPG/diesel, and would need to travel full most trips I suspect. Not sure how a big cat like that would handle the Cook Strait swell either??

Aussie just built two new ferries for Tassie to Melbourne run for nothing like the price these were going to cost. Wartsila mains that could run on duel fuel, the cost of this project so far to achieve absolutely nothing would have paid for half of one, about 400 mil per vessel.
Nothing wrong with diesel electric vessels, but the hybrids with batteries are just an expensive joke and don't make sense in a ship. Cars they work ok.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

once upon a time the ferry didnt stop in picton...it went right down to littleton,or so Im told...bit before my time.... so there is options to bypass picton....sure its further and will cost more...but its an option....even Grant R said on the "idiot lantern" last night..he had given kiwi rail the word and suggested a cheaper option..so it was time bomb waiting to explode and the previous lot knew about it...
the amount of freight that crosses every day is huge....think 15-20 truck n trailer units

Yes I took my vehicle on the overwinter and had a good sleep arriving in Lyttleton rested, miss that.
I'd be happy to do that again in a heartbeat.

Looking into this again this morning I found a quote from a 2022 article that between 2018 and 2021 the portside costs had quadrupled to $1B. The latest figures were over double that for portside infrastructure. 8 times the original quoted cost! Over a 5 year interval.

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Bring back the old cross channel hovercrafts, plenty of speed, can carry cars and virtually no wake. It would be a win win

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Bring back the old cross channel hovercrafts, plenty of speed, can carry cars and virtually no wake. It would be a win win

no good in heavy waves and very fuel hungry though

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Bring back the old cross channel hovercrafts, plenty of speed, can carry cars and virtually no wake. It would be a win win

You mean the old vomit comets?

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

I think the Gov are running a smart game. This will drive efficiency and break up NZ Rail's monopoly position. Also an incentive for Bluebridge to get smarter and more competitive.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I think the Gov are running a smart game. This will drive efficiency and break up NZ Rail's monopoly position. Also an incentive for Bluebridge to get smarter and more competitive.

Finally someone has mentioned bluebridge....the compitition..... the only way to break a monopoly is to have someone else doing the same job...how many times in last 50 years do the wharfies manning these ships decide to go on strike at this time of year??? far too often.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Finally someone has mentioned bluebridge....the compitition..... the only way to break a monopoly is to have someone else doing the same job...how many times in last 50 years do the wharfies manning these ships decide to go on strike at this time of year??? far too often.

Work at Port Otago, been here 19 years never been on strike in that time.

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