Auckland ferry companies have been forced to reduce services to combat rising fuel costs amid the war in Iran.
Fullers360, Auckland’s biggest ferry provider, confirmed multiple changes to its services are already in place, with fuel prices having a “material impact” on operations.
“Like all major transport operators, we are closely monitoring the impact of fluctuating global fuel prices on our ferry operations,” Fullers360 told the Herald.
“Our priority is to provide reliable and sustainable bus and ferry services, and the escalating fuel price situation has had a material impact on our operations.
“We have already implemented some timetable changes spread across a handful of destinations to ensure we can continue providing a reliable and sustainable service and communicated these changes to our customers in advance.”
In a message to customers on March 25, Fullers360 said it had experienced “a significant increase of 92% in fuel costs” in just two weeks.
In the same update, Fullers360 said it is “not planning to increase fares in the short term”.
“Our focus is on absorbing these cost pressures where we can, while making practical adjustments.”
To help offset the costs, Fullers360 moved to its usual off-peak timetable a couple of weeks earlier.
“Now at the end of our peak season, the Waiheke ferry service reverted to its usual timetable slightly earlier than planned,” it said.
“This change coincided with our regular seasonal changeover, with continued frequency available for commuting customers throughout the day.
“We have also removed the weekday Devonport stop-offs on the indirect Waiheke sailings – but this does not impact peak school travel times and has little impact to customers due to very low passenger numbers on those sailings – as a further step taken to optimise fuel use across the business during this fuel volatility period.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds, and if we need to make any further changes in response to this geopolitical situation, we will inform our valued customers and stakeholders.”
SeaLink, another ferry company operating in Auckland, confirmed it has reduced its services to Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island by about 20%.
“SeaLink has experienced a significant and sustained increase in fuel prices throughout March, with the price of diesel more than doubling over this period. This rapid escalation has created considerable pressure on our operating costs,” a SeaLink spokesperson told the Herald.
“We acknowledge our role as a critical lifeline service for Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island communities, providing essential access for food, fuel, freight and passengers across the Hauraki Gulf. For this reason, we have been doing everything possible to absorb these cost increases and mitigate the impact on our customers.
“However, given the scale and duration of the fuel price rises, some short-term operational adjustments have been required. Since Saturday, March 21, SeaLink has consolidated a number of sailings across our Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island services, resulting in an approximately 20% reduction in weekly sailings.
“These changes allow us to balance continuity of service with the reality of rapidly rising fuel costs, while continuing to support the communities and customers who rely on our services every day.”
It comes amid widespread disruptions to the transport industry as it reckons with soaring fuel prices.
Air New Zealand is set to cut flights in and out of Nelson and Tauranga, having already reduced the frequency of 1100 domestic flights, while long-haul flights are expected to be next on the chopping block.
New Zealand Trucking Association David Boyce told the Herald fuel has “overtaken the cost of labour, which previously was the biggest cost” in the trucking industry, warning that costs will be passed on to consumers.
Meanwhile, Aucklanders have continued to flock to public transport at record numbers amid rising fuel prices, with councillor Richard Hills saying patronage figures have increased an average of 10% from the same time last year.
Last month, Auckland recorded its busiest day on public transport in seven years.