Inter island ferry

[R650R]

I see people quoting Nicola Willis already “nz will have a safe and reliable ferry service”.
We we do it’s just not owned by the govt, it’s called bluebridge.

It seems from day one Awatere has been cursed with continual problems no matter who is in govt.

Despite the kiwi she’ll be right attitude let’s just drag it off at next high tide, common sense has prevailed and the ship will be there for another day at least while a proper survey of any damage can be carried out.

A good reminder of anything can happen anytime.

[Grumph]

I'd be interested to see the voting above broken down into South vs North Islands.

i suspect Southerners have a better idea how much the ferries mean to NZ's economy.

[R650R]

I'd be interested to see the voting above broken down into South vs North Islands.

i suspect Southerners have a better idea how much the ferries mean to NZ's economy.

It might not be as much as we think. They have two significant seaports for exports and also chch international airport for airfreight. I know a lot of trucking operators are happy to get their hands on a load of empty pallets for backload out let alone real freight northwards.
South Island is about 22% of GPD with GDP per capita being slightly lower prob due to lower value bulk commodities.
That there is only one free market competitor (bluebridge) who have certain amount of reliable revenue due to their connects with strait freight and other trucking companies says a lot.
We all enjoy the luxury of being able to take our private vehicles across but can we afford to subsidise that?
What would really make sense from an economic perspective would be to invest in coastal shipping direct from say akld/tauranga to chch/bluff. Cost per km is about same as road transport but downside is time delays and double handling/damages and someone needs to front up for long term charter of vessels and crew.

Some interesting reading;

https://nzae.substack.com/p/wither-rail-freight-in-nz-crump-heatley

https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/regional-gross-domestic-product-year-ended-march-2020

[Berries]

i suspect Southerners have a better idea how much the ferries mean to NZ's economy.
I think this gadgee knows.

[pete376403]

Bluebridge have it a lot easier in that they dont cater for rail. Even though this government is ideologically opposed to rail, it still exists as the best way to move a large volumes of freight. Dont overlook that either end of the cook straight link still connects to the major industrial areas by relatively narrow and winding roads eg hudalees, kaikoura, rimutakas, etc, not like trucks can magically zoom off to where they are going once they get off the boats

[jellywrestler]

what twat put an option there for an air link and a fleet of rentals cars, yet failed to mention motorcycles on a motorcycle forum?

[R650R]

what twat put an option there for an air link and a fleet of rentals cars, yet failed to mention motorcycles on a motorcycle forum?

Guilty as charged, although rental cars is a generic industry term that also covers rental vans, rental utes rental trucks. Rental motorcycle outfits already exist in South Island also ;p
The are still six options which enable you to take your bike, and of course the most reliable option is the existing Bluebridge fleet which somehow seem to successfully operate without state welfare.

[jellywrestler]

The are still six options which enable you to take your bike, and of course the most reliable option is the existing Bluebridge fleet which somehow seem to successfully operate without state welfare. yeah like they have never broken down or tried as plan to modernise their fleet once and for all

[Grumph]

Guilty as charged, although rental cars is a generic industry term that also covers rental vans, rental utes rental trucks. Rental motorcycle outfits already exist in South Island also ;p
The are still six options which enable you to take your bike, and of course the most reliable option is the existing Bluebridge fleet which somehow seem to successfully operate without state welfare.

Bluebridge have nearly as many breakdowns as the Kiwirail ships. Just not as well publicised.

Jellywrestler will probably have personal experience of this around any given Xmastime when coming from Wanganui to the GP in ChCh.
Turn up to a GP here and ask any competitor - many tales to be told of cancellations and breakdowns.

[R650R]

Bluebridge have nearly as many breakdowns as the Kiwirail ships. Just not as well publicised.

Jellywrestler will probably have personal experience of this around any given Xmastime when coming from Wanganui to the GP in ChCh.
Turn up to a GP here and ask any competitor - many tales to be told of cancellations and breakdowns.

Yes your right I agree with both of you, even been shafted by the big blue myself but at least their Comms was good about what was going on.
I should have explained my angle better, that pricing I’d pretty much same for both ticket wise, yet with interidlander we pay twice because our taxes fund it.
On top of that political issues/cycles and budgets are likely in the realm of what stops this sinking during next three years where as the private operator is in for long haul.

I forgot another option that could be the bike trans of cook straight. Couple of guys with cigarette boats doing Miami vice style speed runs with couple bikes on board. Normal ferry blows out nearly half a day plus a motel at one end so I’d pay $500 for a 1 hr express option. Maybe more for direct to West Coast with the excitement of a river bar crossing thrown in!

[pritch]

A somewhat dissenting view but having used both I prefer the rail ferries to Bluebridge. There was a particular ship I liked, the Arahura? There were Ds for tie downs just inside the door and bikes were first off. I didn't like the Kaitaki, the trucks were first off and bikes last. You spent the next half hour or whatever overtaking one truck after another.

Blue bridge seemed to be older ships, there were no tie down points there was just a chain along the side the ship. Not at all confidence inspiring.

Last Christchurch trip was fly/rent a car.

[BMWST?]

they need to leverge the existing mega ferries contract to build new rail ferries to match the infrastructure we already have. All these breakdowns (including Bluebridge they just dont get the same publicity) are because ALL the existing ferries are old.

[husaberg]

I'd be interested to see the voting above broken down into South vs North Islands.

i suspect Southerners have a better idea how much the ferries mean to NZ's economy.

I suspect that national would not be so keen to neglect the cook strait power cable as they are lacking in foresight re the ferries.
the clock is ticking, the new ferries Nicky cancelled were set to arrive in 2 years time.
Every day after 2026 that we're without new ferries is a day that we legitimately can blame every single ferry problem directly on Nicola Willis. She is in a no win situation, As I am sure she can't now be seen to uturn. Any ferry will be dearer than it was when the prices were first negotiated, But if you can't rely on the steering and propulsion they cant sail. How long is it before she kills some people. I am sure Luxton will put a price on people's safety much like Boeing or Telsa or Ford before them did.

[nerrrd]

Seems it’s the wharves that are the biggest problem?


Even if you ordered three new smaller ferries instead of two big ones, the wharves still need to be replaced, they are very old. So let's see what they come back with but I don't think they're going to get anything cheaper than what was already under way.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/520533/possible-ferry-cancellation-liability-hasn-t-been-finalised-hipkins

That’s according to Hipkins, but makes sense to me since the need for new ships looks to be a given.

[jellywrestler]

they need to leverge the existing mega ferries contract to build new rail ferries to match the infrastructure we already have. All these breakdowns (including Bluebridge they just dont get the same publicity) are because ALL the existing ferries are old.

they seem to spend billions at a time upgrading state highway one so why not a few billon on some decent boats and wharves to match?. Everything costs billions, just put in on the tab, it wont get any cheaper.

[Berries]

Seems it’s the wharves that are the biggest problem?
I was working on the iReX project for a while, kaching.

At some point with nationally important infrastructure the government of the day has to stump up with the cash to bring things up to date and to add a degree of future proofing. The time is very much now for the floundering ferries and wonky wharves.

Are ferries even the answer? Given the weather and notoriously rough Cook Strait, the proven risk to multiple lives if another one rolls over, the lack of seagoing tugs in the area, wake damage to the Marlbrough Sounds, the number of dead people trying to drive through the night to catch a ferry, the difficulty in improving the docks in Wellington due to the constrained space, saving the whales, convoys of campervans and the horror that is Picton should we look at something else?

Build a bridge and get over it. (https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/oresund-bridge-gdk711853)

I'm sure the Chinese would fund it.

[SaferRides]

I was working on the iReX project for a while, kaching.

At some point with nationally important infrastructure the government of the day has to stump up with the cash to bring things up to date and to add a degree of future proofing. The time is very much now for the floundering ferries and wonky wharves.

Are ferries even the answer? Given the weather and notoriously rough Cook Strait, the proven risk to multiple lives if another one rolls over, the lack of seagoing tugs in the area, wake damage to the Marlbrough Sounds, the number of dead people trying to drive through the night to catch a ferry, the difficulty in improving the docks in Wellington due to the constrained space, saving the whales, convoys of campervans and the horror that is Picton should we look at something else?

Build a bridge and get over it. (https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/oresund-bridge-gdk711853)

I'm sure the Chinese would fund it.

Slightly different weather conditions and very fast tidal flows in Cook Strait are a couple of issues that come to mind.

I'm not sure that the mega ferries were the best solution, but they could have been here in 2026. No one seems to have a clue what to do instead.

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[Berries]

Slightly different weather conditions and very fast tidal flows in Cook Strait are a couple of issues that come to mind.
I am sure there are plenty of other issues that would need to be dealt with but I don't see them as immediately insurmountable.

[pete376403]

I am sure there are plenty of other issues that would need to be dealt with but I don't see them as immediately insurmountable.

South Island is (very slowly) moving northward. If National can put things off long enough, eventually the two islands will connect and then they will be able to use their favoured option, a road between the two.

[Laava]

South Island is (very slowly) moving northward. If National can put things off long enough, eventually the two islands will connect and then they will be able to use their favoured option, a road between the two.
Finally, some common sense!

[sugilite]

Would that be a Toll Road?

[F5 Dave]

Well I don't want to spend any of my tax cut into it.
And we don't need water delivered to everyone's door's, at least if I'm OK.

[Laava]

Well I don't want to spend any of my tax cut into it.
And we don't need water delivered to everyone's door's, at least if I'm OK.
You dont have to have or use the water. You just have to pay for it. FNDC have already done that.

[jim.cox]

And we don't need water delivered to everyone's door's

Its delivered free of charge to my roof

[JimO]

I suspect that national would not be so keen to neglect the cook strait power cable as they are lacking in foresight re the ferries.
the clock is ticking, the new ferries Nicky cancelled were set to arrive in 2 years time.
Every day after 2026 that we're without new ferries is a day that we legitimately can blame every single ferry problem directly on Nicola Willis. She is in a no win situation, As I am sure she can't now be seen to uturn. Any ferry will be dearer than it was when the prices were first negotiated, But if you can't rely on the steering and propulsion they cant sail. How long is it before she kills some people. I am sure Luxton will put a price on people's safety much like Boeing or Telsa or Ford before them did.



you still butthurt that ardern ran away and labour got the arse

going by all labours previous outstanding achievements those ferries would never be delivered or if they did they would have nowhere to tie up to, perhaps they could have parked in the backyard of the 100000 kiwibuild houses

[F5 Dave]

Its delivered free of charge to my roof

Sorry that was an ommission. Locating IP address. We'll send a bill out, back dated of course.

[husaberg]

you still butthurt that ardern ran away and labour got the arse

going by all labours previous outstanding achievements those ferries would never be delivered or if they did they would have nowhere to tie up to, perhaps they could have parked in the backyard of the 100000 kiwibuild houses

AlI I hear from you is but but but hunter Biden, how about you reply to my points .... that way you would not need to resort to personal attacks as a diversion.
if there is a storm and the steering break or the propulsion, what going to stop another wahine disaster.
The replacements boats were cancelled So what is the plan not to kill people with unsafe and unreliable ferries?

[pritch]

AlI
The replacements boats were cancelled So what is the plan not to kill people with unsafe and unreliable ferries?

It seems the government is thinking of privatising the ferries. The new company will probably start by buying ships that have already reached their use by date elsewhere. Depressing really.

[F5 Dave]

Destabilising NZ economy and resilience especially in civil emergency.

But it won't be their fault. Brilliant. :facepalm:

[pete376403]

going by all labours previous outstanding achievements those ferries would never be delivered or if they did they would have nowhere to tie up to, perhaps they could have parked in the backyard of the 100000 kiwibuild houses

Hyundai would have delivered no question about it On time, on budget. However they and other overseas construction industries will be more careful from accepting big ticket jobs when a national government can cancel on a whim.

[BMWST?]

Hyundai would have delivered no question about it On time, on budget. However they and other overseas construction industries will be more careful from accepting big ticket jobs when a national government can cancel on a whim.

I am quite sure there will be some significant penalty clauses in those contracts.
But again the question i have is why were the supposed costs so far out from the 3 billion quoted as "too much". That to me is the question that needs answering

[pete376403]

I am quite sure there will be some significant penalty clauses in those contracts.
But again the question i have is why were the supposed costs so far out from the 3 billion quoted as "too much". That to me is the question that needs answering
The boat price was agreed on and contracted. The port facilities that the new boats would required was the problem, given that building costs are a moving target, especially earthquake regulations. DOnt overlook that the existing berths are largely unchanged since the Aramoana days. To be completely fair, the government should insist that the trucking industry rolls along on 60 year old highways, but there has never been a problem finding billions for roads

[BMWST?]

The boat price was agreed on and contracted. The port facilities that the new boats would required was the problem, given that building costs are a moving target, especially earthquake regulations. DOnt overlook that the existing berths are largely unchanged since the Aramoana days. To be completely fair, the government should insist that the trucking industry rolls along on 60 year old highways, but there has never been a problem finding billions for roads
I thought that was the case. A very poor process then that didnt look at the whole picture.

[pritch]

I thought that was the case. A very poor process then that didnt look at the whole picture.

They did better than Britain when Chris Grayling was secretary of transport. Grayling was an "interesting" character. Seemingly his only attribute was that he was a total Boris/Brexit loyalist. His first move when appointed to be in charge of the justice system had been to ban books in prisons. WTF?

As secretary of transport he signed a contract for a new cross channel ferry service to operate from a different port. The shipping operator, which had no ships, had difficulty finding a suitable ship. It then transpired that the proposed port would need to be fully dredged. Next it quickly became apparent that were no suitable dredges available. The bad publicity was building so the contract was cancelled. The shipping company then sued the government and won. The Government had also been sued by the channel tunnel company over the deal with the shipping company so the total cost of lost legal actions was in the region of fifty million quid.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/grayling-cancels-non-existent-brexit-ferries-at-a-cost-of-£50m

Of course we don't yet know how much our cancelled contract will cost.

[F5 Dave]

Haha, we can laugh at the stupid Brits. . .
But not too long or too loud.

What a slow train crash this all is.

[pete376403]

After the backlash against the NACtfirst govt, suddenly there is money in the tin after all - "Willis says $7.5 billion available to draw on for new Cook Strait ferries" will that include the $300 million contract cancellation cost with Hyundai? https://www.reddit.com/r/nzpolitics/comments/1dm7572/willis_says_75_billion_available_to_draw_on_for/

[SaferRides]

A little gem in the Herald. The cancellation cost for the ferries is looking like $200-300m and may not be known for some time, the contract price was $551m.

Total cockup by KiwiRail / Labour, but didn't anyone in the new government look into the cost of cancelling the contract before starting the process???

And this at the end of the article: "KiwiRail has previously reported shipbrokers estimated just 22 such ships in the world would be suitable to traverse the Cook Strait and none of them were for sale"



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[nerrrd]

Becoming more apparent that they've shot themselves in the foot over this one.

Not just an infrastructure issue, will have a pretty dire effect on tourism as well if it can't be adequately sorted (one of our biggest earners?)

I imagine building new wharves these days is orders of magnitude more expensive than it used to be (due to modern earthquake/construction/safety standards) regardless of size or scope.

[pete376403]

A little gem in the Herald. The cancellation cost for the ferries is looking like $200-300m and may not be known for some time, the contract prices was $551m.

Total cockup by KiwiRail / Labour, but didn't anyone in the new government look into the cost of cancelling the contract before starting the process???

And this at the end of the article: "KiwiRail has previously reported shipbrokers estimated just 22 such ships in the world would be suitable to traverse the Cook Strait and none of them were for sale"

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If a "total cockup by kiwirail / labour", what term would you use to describe NactFirsts" subsequent actions?

[jellywrestler]

A little gem in the Herald. The cancellation cost for the ferries is looking like $200-300m and may not be known for some time, the contract price was $551m.

Total cockup by KiwiRail / Labour, but didn't anyone in the new government look into the cost of cancelling the contract before starting the process???

And this at the end of the article: "KiwiRail has previously reported shipbrokers estimated just 22 such ships in the world would be suitable to traverse the Cook Strait and none of them were for sale"



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should get them delivered and use them for the homeless, cheaper than the motels still fleecing us maybe?

[Grumph]

should get them delivered and use them for the homeless, cheaper than the motels still fleecing us maybe?

Cruise ships would work well for that. And there's a surplus of them atm.

[R650R]

should get them delivered and use them for the homeless, cheaper than the motels still fleecing us maybe?

And the subsequent rise in accidental drownings would make the road toll look good. Incidentally 300-500million is about a weeks worth of welfare payments in this country…
Actually a good use would be the extra prison beds this govt promised. If we anchor it deep in Southern Ocean near Campbell island it should solve any escape attempts.

Let’s not forget the fast ferry wake debacle some years ago. Doing a bit of reading and some people thought the new boats would be too big with various increased dangers when things go wrong.

[Moi]

Why NZ needs to invest properly in rail and ferry infrastructure, for the public good - Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/why-nz-needs-to-invest-properly-in-rail-and-ferry-infrastructure-for-the-public-good-bryce-edwards-political-roundup/NKNOGOD5VZASZMIMDDSFCVWJMM/

[SaferRides]

Today's revelation in the Herald is that Kaitaki has a missing stabiliser and can't sail in swells of more than 4m. With the Aratere out of action and the 3rd ferry away for maintenance, this could result in no KiwiRail sailings if it gets a bit rough in Cook Strait.


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[Berries]

should get them delivered and use them for the homeless, cheaper than the motels still fleecing us maybe?

Has been tried before with much success - life-onboard-a-prison-hulk (https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2021/03/31/life-onboard-a-prison-hulk/)

[R650R]

A very insightful article well written (by an expert not a fluff journalist) article about cause in loss of control of marine vessels. Makes quite an interesting point about how military drills can overstress a ships systems.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350444681/i-was-captain-navy-ship-manawanui-just-sank-mine-almost-sank-too

Quite long but worth time to read in full. A lot of people think this boat was new as Ardern commissioned it in 2018. But it was a 2003 oil rig service boat that had been refitted, some might even call it a Toyota Corolla.

[pritch]

A very insightful article well written (by an expert not a fluff journalist) article about cause in loss of control of marine vessels. Makes quite an interesting point about how military drills can overstress a ships systems.


What with the navy losing two boats in one day, a recent Picton Ferry running aground, and now a BlueBridge ferry hitting the wharf, we can but wonder at the state of seamanship in Godzone. Monday I was talking to an ex matelot and he was saying the navy are not permitted to train how they used to because of health and safety concerns. That is a worry.

[pete376403]

What with the navy losing two boats in one day, a recent Picton Ferry running aground, and now a BlueBridge ferry hitting the wharf, we can but wonder at the state of seamanship in Godzone. Monday I was talking to an ex matelot and he was saying the navy are not permitted to train how they used to because of health and safety concerns. That is a worry.

Bring tied to a grate and lashed sure did instil discipline. That and the threat of keel-hauling.

[Berries]

The strait connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast. It is 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide at its narrowest point, and is considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world.

Still reckon we need to look beyond fossil fuel powered floating coffins.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-2-7BfFtpo?si=tRLNbmJwcsszRz2m" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[jellywrestler]

a BlueBridge ferry hitting the wharf, .

just how does one move a ship in high winds at 3 knots and not have this occur on a semi regular basis? Sitting at the side are our journalists who need click bait to survive will they next report that a big truck actually touches the loading bay where they dock too?
fuck if it's weren't for vegans, cycle ways, vaccines, ferries, and many other things a lot of people wouldn't have a single thing to utter it seems

[Berries]

Perhaps when the last person to leave Wellington turns the light out they can make a new port up the coast a bit.

[jellywrestler]

Perhaps when the last person to leave Wellington turns the light out they can make a new port up the coast a bit.

no ones leaving, they are all sitting around being triggered by vegans, cycle lanes, ferries, vaccines, overpriced outdated bread shops closing and whatever.

[R650R]

Maybe we can borrow this off the aussies.

Seems our politicians aren’t the only ones stuffing things up


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mM66wZ-HWE

[Grumph]

no ones leaving, they are all sitting around being triggered by vegans, cycle lanes, ferries, vaccines, overpriced outdated bread shops closing and whatever.


There's already a few interesting cars on Trademe where the Wellington based lister admits to selling up.

Might be some interesting bikes come on the market.

[Berries]

Already happening -

[BMWST?]

Still reckon we need to look beyond fossil fuel powered floating coffins.

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i think all that water is very shallow and slow flowing compared to cook strait.The video didnt present many facts about the structure(s)

[F5 Dave]

Can't we just nudge the two islands closer together? Bit like Tap car parking when bumpers we're invented?

Be quite nice to have Takaka hill on daytrip loop.

[BMWST?]

Can't we just nudge the two islands closer together? Bit like Tap car parking when bumpers we're invented?

Be quite nice to have Takaka hill on daytrip loop.

Easy 6 15 am Ferry (Aratere) which will enable you to be in Takaka for a late lunch. You will then be able to get to St Arnaud to have a coffee at about 5 pm ,then back to picton to catch the 8 :50 pm Aratere back to Welly

[pete376403]

[QUOTE=F5 Dave;1131230073]Can't we just nudge the two islands closer together? Bit like Tap car parking when bumpers we're invented?

Be quite nice to have Takaka hill on daytrip loop.[/QUOTE

It is happening but you might have to wait. The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake plus two years of creeping movement has left the North and South Islands 14 inches closer than they were before.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/108718708/south-and-north-islands-getting-closer

[F5 Dave]

Easy 6 15 am Ferry (Aratere) which will enable you to be in Takaka for a late lunch. You will then be able to get to St Arnaud to have a coffee at about 5 pm ,then back to picton to catch the 8 :50 pm Aratere back to Welly
Yes but your plan falls over. I don't like coffee. Thanks for playing.

[SaferRides]

Can't we just nudge the two islands closer together? Bit like Tap car parking when bumpers we're invented?

Be quite nice to have Takaka hill on daytrip loop.I must get the R1 back to the South Island this summer...

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[Berries]

i think all that water is very shallow and slow flowing compared to cook strait.The video didnt present many facts about the structure(s)
Cook Strait is without doubt a knarly piece of water to try and have a fixed structure on, over or under but you build it once and be done with it. No sinkings, no mass drownings, no queuing, no booking ahead, no timetable changes, no new terminals, no new boats, no strapping down your bike, no dead dolphins or complaints about wash and erosion. No rushing to Picton and killing all your family in a crash. No vomit over the sides or really bad sausage rolls. I'm not seeing any negatives.

$50 toll each way, be coining it.

[Grumph]

Cook Strait is without doubt a knarly piece of water to try and have a fixed structure on, over or under but you build it once and be done with it. No sinkings, no mass drownings, no queuing, no booking ahead, no timetable changes, no new terminals, no new boats, no strapping down your bike, no dead dolphins or complaints about wash and erosion. No rushing to Picton and killing all your family in a crash. No vomit over the sides or really bad sausage rolls. I'm not seeing any negatives.

$50 toll each way, be coining it.


Having lived through a 7.2 and multiple aftershocks you couldn't pay me enough to get me into a Cook straight tunnel.

Any bridge structure - floating or fixed - has weather to contend with plus there must be through access for shipping.

Shipping remains the only realistic option. In my lifetime anyway.

[jellywrestler]

. No rushing to Picton and killing all your family in a crash..

and you believed the media and cops??? that crash happened about five kms from picton, around 3.5 hours before their ferry,

[jellywrestler]

no dead dolphins.

dolphins aren't real, those are just gay sharks

[Berries]

and you believed the media and cops??? that crash happened about five kms from picton, around 3.5 hours before their ferry,
Not sure which crash you are referring to but the one I had to produce a report for had people failing to make it to Picton at stupid o'clock and falling asleep. May not have been speeding but they were sure desperate to get the boat.

Anyway, sounds like my idea is a non-starter. I will stick with my plans for a bridge over the oyster beds in Foveaux Strait instead.

[Laava]

and you believed the media and cops??? that crash happened about five kms from picton, around 3.5 hours before their ferry,
That stretch of road from Picton to Blenheim has got to be magnet for all the cuntiest drivers in NZ! Seen some appalling behaviour there! Last time it was a homo in a brand new ford raptor. He was polishing it on the ferry waiting to disembark and then he overtook everyone he could like an absolute loony. Must have thought it was the Nurburgring.

[pete376403]

Cook Strait is without doubt a knarly piece of water to try and have a fixed structure on, over or under but you build it once and be done with it. No sinkings, no mass drownings, no queuing, no booking ahead, no timetable changes, no new terminals, no new boats, no strapping down your bike, no dead dolphins or complaints about wash and erosion. No rushing to Picton and killing all your family in a crash. No vomit over the sides or really bad sausage rolls. I'm not seeing any negatives.

$50 toll each way, be coining it.

$50? The squilloins that it would cost to build would require a toll in the many hundreds. The Dover-Calais tunnel cost (equivalent to) about $NZ29 billion nearly 30 years ago. Even with patronage of an average of 60,000 passengers pass through the tunnel each day, along with 4,600 trucks, 140 coaches and 7,300 cars, the cheapest toll is 69 pounds per car. Eurotunnel has been given a concession of 65 years to rpay loans and pay a dividend. Can't see Willis letting that go by any time soon.

[jellywrestler]

That stretch of road from Picton to Blenheim has got to be magnet for all the cuntiest drivers in NZ! Seen some appalling behaviour there! Last time it was a homo in a brand new ford raptor. He was polishing it on the ferry waiting to disembark and then he overtook everyone he could like an absolute loony. Must have thought it was the Nurburgring.

maybe, but not when that crash happened, about 7.30 on a sunday morning, there would have been nobody around, they say it's a dangerous peice of road, however the driver had just negotiated the weld pass, which of the two is worse?

[jellywrestler]

Not sure which crash you are referring to but the one I had to produce a report for had people failing to make it to Picton at stupid o'clock and falling asleep. May not have been speeding but they were sure desperate to get the boat.

Anyway, sounds like my idea is a non-starter. I will stick with my plans for a bridge over the oyster beds in Foveaux Strait instead.

there was a fan load about a year ago, terrible carnage, heading home from a funeral around dunedin. The most publicly known one in recent times
fact is it was around 7.30 am for an 11am ferry, what has the ferry got to do with it? these people had several hours up their sleeve

[Grumph]

there was a fan load about a year ago, terrible carnage, heading home from a funeral around dunedin. The most publicly known one in recent times
fact is it was around 7.30 am for an 11am ferry, what has the ferry got to do with it? these people had several hours up their sleeve

Gotta be first in the queue.

A couple of times I've come off the boat in the evening and it's been dark as I've come south.

I have been passed -in the dark - at very high speed by people who obviously know the road well.
I've been told they're often ferry crew now on days off going home.

Rather surprised at the lack of reported crew road accidents after seeing that.

[SaferRides]

there was a fan load about a year ago, terrible carnage, heading home from a funeral around dunedin. The most publicly known one in recent times
fact is it was around 7.30 am for an 11am ferry, what has the ferry got to do with it? these people had several hours up their sleeveThat one was very sad, many people just don't understand the dangers of fatigue. I helped my son drive a car from Christchurch to Auckland in a day about 10 years ago. We both agreed to never do anything like that again.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[R650R]

Looks like private enterprise just snapped up a deal on a Toyota Corolla ;p

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360623524/straitnz-upgrades-cook-strait-ferry-fleet-new-ship

[Piper]

they seem to spend billions at a time upgrading state highway one so why not a few billon on some decent boats and wharves to match?. Everything costs billions, just put in on the tab, it wont get any cheaper.
.They should consider putting in a tunnel.

[jellywrestler]

.They should consider putting in a tunnel.

google fault lines in nz

[Piper]

google fault lines in nz


I didn't know Google had fault lines in NZ.

[jellywrestler]

Aratere is being parked up next month, one less ferry, that will mean they can take all the motorcycle tie dows off here and spread them around their other ships.....
as it's the only rail ferry expect more trucks on the road too

[BMWST?]

Came back from the SI yesterday. Kaitaki.It was the emptiest sailing I have ever seen. The seating area by the cafe on deck 7 had only 3 groups of people.
The very foward seating area had only about 20 people. They had several drills on the journey. The messagges on The PA regarding said drill were ear splitting. At one point i think we would have been doing 5 knots or so and a Bluebride ferry over took us.

[jellywrestler]

Came back from the SI yesterday. Kaitaki.It was the emptiest sailing I have ever seen. The seating area by the cafe on deck 7 had only 3 groups of people.
The very foward seating area had only about 20 people. They had several drills on the journey. The messagges on The PA regarding said drill were ear splitting. At one point i think we would have been doing 5 knots or so and a Bluebride ferry over took us.

why do these tests need to be earspiltting? We live in a period where they could have a ramped up noise, not full volume straight off, or not full volume at all, same goes for building fire alarms especially old folks homes, they nearly frighten an inmate to death each time they test.....

[Berries]

Build a bridge and join the 20th century for fucks sake.

Sorry not an option on the poll. Just annexe the north island then.

[R650R]

why do these tests need to be earspiltting? We live in a period where they could have a ramped up noise, not full volume straight off, or not full volume at all, same goes for building fire alarms especially old folks homes, they nearly frighten an inmate to death each time they test.....

Because there’s always going to be the chance someone won’t return it back to full afterwards and purpose drill is to know which places you can’t hear alarm etc.
With modern electronics you could conduct a completely silent full test but who’s going to pay for the upgrade then sign off and pay for the certification etc.

I wonder how well equipped we are in NZ to deal with fire on ferry with the rise of EVs and home made campervan conversions. In this disaster the crew didn’t even deluge right deck due to confusing labelling on controls!BTW this channel has done great with these vids even though it covers some disasters others already had.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INxKut5OtSg

[jellywrestler]

Because there’s always going to be the chance someone won’t return it back to full afterwards and purpose drill is to know which places you can’t hear alarm etc.
still not hard to have it ramping up over a few short seconds, even my alarm clock does that.