MV Arahanga
MV Arahanga was a roll-on/roll-off train ferry that operated across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton in New Zealand from 1972 until 2001.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | MV Arahanga |
| Operator | New Zealand Railways Department, New Zealand Railways Corporation, Tranz Rail |
| Route | Wellington - Picton |
| Builder | Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, Glasgow |
| Yard number | 111 |
| Launched | 27 July 1972 |
| In service | 11 December 1972 |
| Out of service | 27 March 2001 |
| Fate | Scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Roll-on/roll-off, train ferry |
| Tonnage | 3,893 GRT |
| Length | 127.4 metres |
| Beam | 18.3 metres |
| Draught | 4.8 metres |
| Propulsion | 2 x SEMT Pielstick |
| Speed | 17 Knots (31 km/h) |
| Capacity | 40 (Original) 100 (1989) |
History
Arahanga was built by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, Glasgow for the New Zealand Railways Department to operate across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton.[1] Upper Clyde Shipbuilders went into liquidation during its construction, delaying its completion by 10 months.[2] It was the last ship built at the John Brown & Company yard.[3] Launched on 27 January 1972, it arrived in Wellington on 22 November 1972 and entered service on 11 December 1972.[4][5][6]
It was built as a cargo ferry with four tracks for railway wagons and additional capacity for road trucks. Built to only carry 40 passengers, it was refitted in 1984 to carry 100.[7] After 32,662 voyages, it was withdrawn on 27 March 2001 and sold to Alang, India for scrapping.[2]
References
- A Bridge in NZ Network December 1970 page 1
- Arahanga New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Cook Strait ferry service started 25 years ago Rails September 1987 page 36
- Ferry Launched Rails February 1972 page 14
- Third Rail Ferry for New Zealand Railways Network January 1973 page 2
- Third Vessel for Cook Strait Rail Ferry Service Railway Transportation February 1973 page 5
- Arahanga altered Rails November 1984 page 94