Tranz Rail is to bring in a bigger fast ferry and dump the Arahanga ferry following the demise of its Cook Strait rival, TopCat.
Tranz Rail's Lynx fast ferry service will resume on December 10 with a new vessel able to carry 800 passengers and 260 cars, increasing capacity by 75 cars and 50 passengers on each voyage, the company said yesterday.
The Evolution 10B vessel would offer a year-round service and take commercial vehicles from early next year, spokesman Fred Cockram said.
The company is also considering night sailings of the Lynx at peak times during summer.
But Tranz Rail's 28-year-old freight ferry Arahanga would be withdrawn next month, Mr Cockram said. An assessment of the vessel showed that a lot of work would be needed in the next few months to refit the ferry for further service.
With the additional commercial vehicle capacity being provided by the new fast ferry, Tranz Rail had decided to do away with the Arahanga, he said.
"This new configuration [of two conventional ferries and one fast ferry on a year-round basis] provides a capacity mix that better matches today's market requirements."
Fast Cat Ferries is ending its 18-month-old TopCat service today and has given its 110 staff two weeks' notice.
Fast Cat has blamed the Marlborough District Council's speed restriction by-law, the low New Zealand dollar and increasing fuel prices for the TopCat's demise.
The company is considering taking the council to court over the bylaw.
Chief executive Keith Pybus said it would ask Tranz Rail to help to honour bookings paid in advance and tell passengers with unpaid bookings to re-book with Tranz Rail, at a slightly higher price, or seek a refund from TopCat.
Mr Cockram said he did not think Tranz Rail could take on all of TopCat's confirmed bookings for specific sailings as some days were already fully booked.
Mr Pybus said TopCat's Tasmanian-based owners, Incat, had withdrawn the vessel because the company was owed a substantial amount in charter fees.
Ironically, the Evolution 10B which Tranz Rail is to lease for the Lynx service is also owned by Incat.
Mr Pybus said Fast Cat Ferries would become a sleeping company, and there was no pressure for liquidation.
- NZPA
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