A ferry operated by KiwiRail between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, named the Interislander Aratere, ran aground in Picton Harbour on the north coast of the South Island on Friday night.
The incident occurred due to a reported steering failure while the ferry was preparing to travel to Wellington on the North Island. Fortunately, there were no injuries, although 47 people had to spend the night onboard.
Following the grounding, the New Zealand government expressed concern over the incident. Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirmed on Saturday night that the Aratere had been successfully refloated and was now floating in Picton Harbour. The vessel was subsequently anchored to undergo further checks and ensure its safety.
According to Interislander management, divers inspected the ferry and found minimal damage, affirming that the vessel remains watertight. KiwiRail, which operates the ferry service across the Cook Strait, transports nearly 800,000 passengers annually between the country’s two main islands.
