Port's $2 million Christmas present arrives early

Port of Tauranga's new, bright yellow pilot launch will be in service by Christmas - once the formalities are signed off with Maritime NZ.
The $2 million Arataki arrived at the port on Sunday evening after cruising around the bottom half of the North Island, from the boatbuilder in Wanganui through Cook Strait and having an overnight stay in Napier.
One of the biggest pilot launches in the country, Arataki will replace Tauranga II, which has been operating on Tauranga harbour for 25 years.
Port Marlborough is negotiating to buy Tauranga II and Te Awanui will continue as the back-up pilot launch at Port of Tauranga. It is also used for hydrographic surveys.
Nigel Drake, the port company's operations manager, said the Arataki was bigger and faster and more capable of handling the larger vessels.
"The Arataki can get between the ships more quickly and expeditiously," he said. "The larger vessels are more difficult to handle as they slow, but the pilots will be able to get out and onboard them more readily than in the past.
"We now have a launch that can go out day and night and in all waters to do that."
Boat builder Q-West in Wanganui took 12 months to build the 16.3 metre long Arataki, powered by twin 750hp Scania V8 diesel engines. It has a top speed of 29.5 knots compared with Tauranga II's 18 knots.
Tauranga II is 14.9 metres long and Te Awanui 12.5 metres. The hull of the Arataki, designed by Brett Bakewell-White in Auckland, is sleeker to increase its speed and flexibility.
The Arataki has the latest electronic navigation and communication equipment and takes eight people - six of them up front in leather upholstered hydraulically-dampened seats that cushion the movements of the waves.
Normally, a crew of five - three pilots, deckhand and launch master (driver) - goes out to meet the vessels. The Arataki also has a helm station to guide it close to a person who is being rescued from the water.
Mr Drake said the port company chose the "striking yellow" colour for the new launch to make it more visible. Tauranga II and Te Awanui are two shades of orange.
"The Arataki is quieter when it's operating, so you won't hear as much when it is working out on the water in the wee small hours," said Mr Drake.
Port of Tauranga will continue to operate a five-strong fleet, with Arataki and Te Awanui joining the three tug boats, Sir Robert, Te Matua and Kaimai.