More problems for Cook Strait ferry

NEW name, same old story.

Interislander’s newest Cook Strait ferry Kaiarahi – formerly known as the Stena Alegra – has encountered more problems while in dry dock in Singapore, meaning its return to New Zealand will be delayed by about a month.

The ship was due to go into service between Wellington and Picton in September, but Interislander’s operator KiwiRail has now pushed that back to October, with the exact date to be confirmed closer to the time.

The delay means about 100 people who have already booked passages on the Kaiarahi for September will have to be accommodated on Interislander’s other ferries, the Kaitaki and Aratere. The same goes for a small amount of freight.

NZ First leader Winston Peters said the latest problem had reinforced his view that the Kaiarahi was a ‘‘lemon’’.

It had been undergoing sea trials in Singapore after receiving upgrades, including new lounges, a bar, stabilisers, navigation, engine room equipment and gangway access.

KiwiRail spokeswoman Julie Buchanan said the trials identified some wear inside the stern tubes, and it made sense to replace them while the ship was still in dry dock.

‘‘Carrying out this work now is preferable to risking delays to our customers later,’’ she said.

‘‘Kaiarahi has undergone a major refit, so it was always possible that further issues would come to light. We would rather remedy any issues now, while she is in Singapore.’’

It was too early to say how much the repairs would cost, or who would bear that cost, she said.

The Swedish-owned Stena Alegra was drafted on to the Cook Strait run in late 2013 to fill in for the crippled Aratere, which had to have major repairs after losing a propeller in Cook Strait.

But the Stena Alegra did not fare much better. It broke down in Wellington Harbour in its first week of service, had propeller problems, and suffered a gash in its hull when it hit a Wellington wharf.

In December 2014, KiwiRail opted to charter the Stena Alegra for five years as a replacement for the 31-year-old Arahura, rather than spending $250 million on a new ferry. It did not say how much it paid for the ferry.

The decision drew criticism at the time from Peters, who labelled the Swedish ship a ‘‘rust bucket’’.

Peters said yesterday that the latest problems showed the ship was not fit for purpose.

‘‘A lemon is always going to be a lemon,’’ he said. ‘‘They’ve done so much work on this boat . . . it’s not working out.’’

It was clear ‘‘after five minutes’’ in dry dock that refitting the Stena Alegra was not the way to go. It was yet another ‘‘horrible’’ and ‘‘expensive’’ decision by KiwiRail, he said.