By
Alex Smith |
Danish naval architecture firm OSK-ShipTech has designed the two new Interislander ferries for KiwiRail.
The Interislander ferries link the road and rail networks between the North and South islands of New Zealand. The new ferries will replace the existing fleet of three ships and will be capable of carrying twice the number of passengers, double the trucks and vehicles and 300 per cent more rail wagons.
“We can’t stress how happy we are to have entered into this collaboration with KiwiRail, which underlines the market position of OSK-ShipTech globally,” said Anders Ørgård, chief commercial officer of OSK-ShipTech. “Central for the design is maximum fuel efficiency and minimum emissions of carbon dioxide. The new ferries will be future-proof and adaptable to new fuel sources continuously and as they become available. We are really excited about this forward-looking project and collaboration on the continued development for KiwiRail in the region.”
The ferries will enter service between Wellington and Picton in 2024 and 2025, the first purpose-built ships New Zealand has introduced to its fleet in more than 25 years.