The debacle is the latest in a string of problems for the Interislanders, once a much-loved Kiwi institution but now synonymous with blunders.
A ferry travelling between New Zealand's two main islands veered into a rocky cliff face shortly after leaving Picton on Friday evening.
Interislander general manager Duncan Roy blamed a "steering failure" for the accident, with navigation websites showing the Aratere turning gradually into rocky land rather than heading straight into the Marlborough Sounds, bound for Wellington."It was a freight-only sailing, with eight commercial vehicle drivers and 39 crew on board," he said.
A refloating operation was due to take place on Saturday morning, however, it had to be delayed until the evening's high tide to allow for more time to prepare the ship. The previous government, led by Jacinda Ardern, hoped to replace the fleet with rail-enabled new ferries and wharves, but the current conservative government axed the project on coming to office, citing major cost blowouts.This week, Mr Brown told a parliamentary select committee the government had been "highly unimpressed" with the maintenance of the ships by KiwiRail, New Zealand's government-owned rail operator which also operates the Interislander ferries.
Polar outbreak and snow ahead this week with Sydney and Melbourne on track for coldest start to winter in decades
Interislander Ferry Cook Strait North Island South Island Picton Grounding Run Aground Crash Cliff Rocks Beached
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