Bluebridge has announced plans to replace its 28-year-old Cook Strait ferry, Strait Feronia, with the more modern Stena Livia, offering more capacity and comfort for passengers and freight.
The new vessel, currently sailing for Stena Line between Germany and Latvia, is scheduled to join the Bluebridge fleet in July after undergoing a name change and dry dock work in Europe. It will begin replacing the Strait Feronia towards the end of the year.
Owned by StraitNZ, Bluebridge currently operates the Strait Feronia and Connemara ferries between the North and South Islands. The Strait Feronia has been in service since 1997, while the incoming Stena Livia launched in 2008.
StraitNZ chief executive Shane McMahon said the upgrade is part of the company’s commitment to improving services on the critical inter-island route.
“We are familiar with the vessel type and know it is well suited to work on Cook Strait,” McMahon said. “When we set out to find a suitable vessel replacement a few months ago, we wanted to be able to provide more freight and passenger capacity and the Livia delivers both.”
The new ferry will offer a 10 percent increase in vehicle capacity and a significant boost in passenger capacity, which will be further enhanced through planned modifications before entering service.
The upgrade is expected to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and support growing transport needs between the islands.