Cook Strait ferries debacle

[Tazz]

Bugger the Interislander, pretend it doesn't exist and use Bluebridge.

Let the Interislander and its moronic management sink. It should have been left as a private enterprise to ensure it is run efficiently unlike how it is now with their gross incompetence and bully tactics against any competition.

I dont care what boat it is, so long as there is a boat and it gets across in a reasonable time,

Fuck them for not doing Grassmere and running fast ferries though

Considering they can't even run things from ports that don't need constant dredging and get sand blasted badly by high winds, that decision would have ensured even more hilarity.

[oldrider]

Word is that they are seeking a replacement ferry leased from Tonga!

[thehovel]

Bugger the Interislander, pretend it doesn't exist and use Bluebridge.

Let the Interislander and its moronic management sink. It should have been left as a private enterprise to ensure it is run efficiently unlike how it is now with their gross incompetence and bully tactics against any competition.



Considering they can't even run things from ports that don't need constant dredging and get sand blasted badly by high winds, that decision would have ensured even more hilarity.

Finally a good idea.

[Kickaha]

Bugger the Interislander, pretend it doesn't exist and use Bluebridge.

I use whatever has the most convenient sailing time for whatever event I am heading north for, I don't give a shit who runs it as it's just a few hours wasted in my life each way

Considering they can't even run things from ports that don't need constant dredging and get sand blasted badly by high winds, that decision would have ensured even more hilarity.

Shorter travel time on the road to it and shorter sail time on the water is all I cared about

[jasonu]

Nothing to do with ships. The biggest issue I see with the Stena Alegra is the amount of oil it spews out each crossing. Doesn't have a functioning mechanical seal anywhere on that boat and nothing short of a full refit including completely new motive power bits and probably new hull plates is going to fix i.

That is very interesting. How do you know about it?

[Tazz]

Shorter travel time on the road to it and shorter sail time on the water is all I cared about

There would be more days that would not be sailable due to weather than the way it is now I heard due to that wind (waves/tide wouldn't probably be a problem there for the size of the ships I'd guess?) and the need to stick to the channel, so the shorter drive and sail time becomes a bit redundant if the ship isn't going anywhere.

It was something that was 'politically' looked at over and over since the 20's and never implemented because it was never an option once the politics were brushed aside (and reality kicked in...).

Would have been good for Picton in the long term too if it went and against all odds was successful but oh well.

[Voltaire]

Sadly we are a borderline third world nation economically,
....

I wish they would stop going on about NZ being a 'Rock Star Economy" ....or may they are referring to Jim, Jimmy,Janis, Kurt , Ian, etc

[R650R]

Nothing to do with ships. Everything to do with the all powerful Road Transport Forum...

While this tired old sound bite keeps getting trotted out by the green party and co it bears little resemblance to any real life relationship between the govt and road transport industry.
Owner drivers and company shareholders would just love to see evidence of any benefits/concessions/tax breaks/special treatment handed out cause it sure a shell doesn't happen.
Just because the Labour party decided to cripple the govts balance sheet knowing they would lose next election and saddle the Nats with a giant hospital pass it doesn't mean National is pro truck just because they don't want to waste more money on our haphazard aging rail network.
If you knew anything about Road transport at all you'd know that Several of the top major companies LOVE sending freight by rail where it makes economic sense and fits in with customer timelines. Transport companies are about making money, yes some have a family history and love for trucks but at the end of the day they will use whatever method makes the most money.

[James Deuce]

That is very interesting. How do you know about it?

It's not a conspiracy. That's the trucking lobby group. They've been lobbying for a non-rail Ferry for decades. They're quite open about it and are largely responsible for ensuring that rail can't ever return to a profitable efficiency.50 tonne trucks on NZ roads are idiocy. But not to them hence the fact that they now roam free.

[James Deuce]

While this tired old sound bite keeps getting trotted out by the green party and co it bears little resemblance to any real life relationship between the govt and road transport industry.
Owner drivers and company shareholders would just love to see evidence of any benefits/concessions/tax breaks/special treatment handed out cause it sure a shell doesn't happen.
Just because the Labour party decided to cripple the govts balance sheet knowing they would lose next election and saddle the Nats with a giant hospital pass it doesn't mean National is pro truck just because they don't want to waste more money on our haphazard aging rail network.
If you knew anything about Road transport at all you'd know that Several of the top major companies LOVE sending freight by rail where it makes economic sense and fits in with customer timelines. Transport companies are about making money, yes some have a family history and love for trucks but at the end of the day they will use whatever method makes the most money.

Yeah, nah. They've refused to service rail heads for decades. If they were interested in integrating rail and road they'd actively invest in rail. They don't. End of story.

Oh, and I didn't mention National or Labour. This is a commerical issue and reflects the attitudes of corporates to helping develop a sustainable long term efficient, multi-faceted transport network that would benefit all of NZ. Can't do that because the balance sheet would suffer for a decade or more.

[R650R]

Yeah, nah. They've refused to service rail heads for decades. If they were interested in integrating rail and road they'd actively invest in rail. They don't. End of story.

Oh, and I didn't mention National or Labour. This is a commerical issue and reflects the attitudes of corporates to helping develop a sustainable long term efficient, multi-faceted transport network that would benefit all of NZ. Can't do that because the balance sheet would suffer for a decade or more.

Well its just that everyone else thinks the Nats are "pro truck" despite them making the biggest hikes in RUC...
Agree about corporate CEO only looking at the short term results for their bonus pays... But on a day to day basis whether freight travels by road or rail is purely a $ issue if not time sensitive freight.
I interviewed a manager at smaller company, he has it down to last cent on truck vs rail and they own nearly a thousand of their own containers. He uses rail when it works out better based on $ and time. Nothing to do with a grand conspiracy to get rid of ferries...

It's not a conspiracy. That's the trucking lobby group. They've been lobbying for a non-rail Ferry for decades. They're quite open about it and are largely responsible for ensuring that rail can't ever return to a profitable efficiency.50 tonne trucks on NZ roads are idiocy. But not to them hence the fact that they now roam free.

50 tonne trucks are just business as usual. Everyone's been running around 'fat' since time immeroial, even the cops knew, they just turned a blind eye to those running the good gear and used it as a carrot for partial compliance of laws, much like how the vice squad only busts the low level drug dealers and not those at the top.
The only reason we had the new 50max arrangements come in is because NZTA started putting in too many "weigh in motion" scales on major state highways and realised the level of 'offending'. Then of course someone had to cover their butt and set up an official system.
There was mass hysteria of course on talkback radio when it was announced, people saying the road would collapse, no one would be able to overtake safely etc.... Joe Blow public could prob not even tell the difference today.

[jasonu]

It's not a conspiracy. That's the trucking lobby group. They've been lobbying for a non-rail Ferry for decades. They're quite open about it and are largely responsible for ensuring that rail can't ever return to a profitable efficiency.50 tonne trucks on NZ roads are idiocy. But not to them hence the fact that they now roam free.

I was referring to the oil you say it spews into the ocean. I spent time working on cruise ships and letting anything let alone oil into the sea is a huge big no no.

[Swoop]

Any ship-wise people who can explain this banana republic decision?

*Looks upwards toward my "location"*
Weeellllllll... we do live in the republic!

Interesting to note about the Alega: It is going to require a refit, included in which is the fitment of stabilisers!
IF these are active stabs. then the cost will be verging on the ridiculous and worthy of a new-build vessel.
If just a bolt-on bilge keel affair, much cheaper (and nastier).

Really nothing much more than we have come to know from the famously bad way to do shipping in NZ.

[Maha]

The Arahura was at Devonport a few months undergoing a refurbishment.

[buggerit]

I wish they would stop going on about NZ being a 'Rock Star Economy" ....or may they are referring to Jim, Jimmy,Janis, Kurt , Ian, etc

Fred and Barney I think you will find