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A new addition to Wellington’s Cook Strait ferry fleet has received a “tug spray welcome” as it sailed into the capital this morning. 

Bluebridge’s new ferry the Livia arrived around 8.30am after a six-week journey from Europe. 

The ship, which is replacing the Strait Feronia, left dry dock in Denmark in May before calling in at Portsmouth in the UK, then sailing on to New Zealand via the Panama Canal. 

StraitNZ CEO Shane McMahon said it’s been “smooth sailing” for the vessel. 

“It’s been a very efficient process from acquisition in March to arrival here in New Zealand.” 

New Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry the Livia arrived in Wellington this morning. 

McMahon said the new ship should be sailing the Cook Strait route later this month and marks a significant next step in the company’s ongoing investment in infrastructure and capacity. 

“Livia delivers an increase in both freight and passenger capacity, and we’re very pleased to have secured a vessel of this quality and suitability for Cook Strait conditions.” 

WellingtonNZ chief executive Mark Oldershaw said the Livia was a “vital addition” to strengthen the region’s transport network and help ensure resilience for the country’s most important ferry route. 

“Livia will play an essential role in keeping Wellington’s communities, businesses and visitors connected across the Cook Strait.” 

Previously sailing between Germany and Latvia, the Livia is a sister ship to StraitNZ’s Connemara, which began service on Cook Strait in 2023. 

The Livia received a "tug spray welcome" as it docked in the capital. Photo / Ethan Manera 

StraitNZ Bluebridge, a privately owned business, currently holds 50% of the Cook Strait freight market and almost 40% of the passenger market. 

The new ship will provide a 10% increase in vehicle capacity and is set to increase Bluebridge passenger capacity “significantly” with further alterations. 

Bluebridge’s competitor, Interislander, is owned and operated by state-owned enterprise KiwiRail. 

Its capacity will reduce next month from three ferries to two with the retirement of the Aratere; a ship that made headlines when it ran aground near Picton last year. 

The Livia will replace the Strait Feronia, pictured here in the background with Interislander's Kaiarahi ferry passing by. Photo / Mark Mitchell 

That’ll leave the Kaitaki and Kaiārahi to cover all needs until the Government replaces them with “two new rail ferries” in 2029 - ferries that are yet to be ordered. 

Minister for Rail Winston Peters announced the new plan to replace Interislander’s ailing fleet in March. It replaces Labour’s iRex project that would have delivered two new mega ferries and upgraded port infrastructure in Wellington and Picton. 

The Government scrapped that project after budget blowouts to the infrastructure side of things saw the total cost balloon to around $3 billion. 

Peters said the ships the Government was now looking for would be “approximately 200m long - longer and wider than the current fleet”, however they would be shorter than the ferries ordered under Labour in 2021.