Bluebridge may build new ferry terminal

Port Marlborough and Strait Shipping are discussing the possibility of a new ferry terminal in Picton for the Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry Service.

Strait Shipping spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said the discussions were extremely positive and related to long term, permanent facilities for the service.

Port Marlborough chief executive Sean Bolt said the port was looking at building a dedicated terminal for Strait Shipping similar to the one it had in Wellington.

It signalled that Strait Shipping was here to stay, he said.

Mr Bolt said negotiations with Toll for its use of the Picton Ferry Terminal were going satisfactorily, but they had been put on hold until a hearing at the Marlborough District Council next month into a variation in shipping activity in the Sounds relating to ferry speeds.

The outcome of the hearing would have a bearing on Toll's fleet configuration, as the type of ships Toll would have, or potentially have would affect the ferry terminal design.

The configuration of the fleet could mean a complete redesign of the existing terminal or rebuilding some of the wharf structures, Mr Bolt said.

Toll said is believed to have shelved a proposal to move its interisland ferries from Picton to Clifford Bay, 44km south of Blenheim, although its chief executive David Jackson said on Wednesday no final decision had been made.

The Independent this week reported Toll managing director Paul Little from Melbourne as saying any move to Clifford Bay had been put to one side as the company focused on upgrading the Interisland Line's terminals at Picton and Wellington.

- NZPA