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���Գٱ�����������Ի���’s��Aratere ferry needs new plating inserted after it hit a linkspan coming into a berth in���±�������Բ��ٴDz�,��damaging its hull.��

The incident happened on Thursday afternoon��while the ferry was docking in high winds. The hull was damaged but well above the water line.��

“No one was injured and there is no danger to the ship, passengers or the environment as a result of this incident,”��KiwiRail��said in a statement.��

CentrePort confirmed part of the connection point where the linkspan (a type of drawbridge used to embark and disembark ferries) and the rear of the ferry met was damaged.��

Repairs to the visible damage were carried out overnight.��

“CentrePort is today proactively inspecting the linkspan and associated structures from a boat, and underwater, to identify any possible non-visible damage,” the port said in a statement.��

It’s the latest in a string of incidents involving the Interislander fleet, including��Aratere suffering a reported steering failure��on June 21 and running aground in Picton shortly after. It only��returned to full service late last��month.��

Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said the cause of yesterday’s incident remained under investigation.��

Repairs on Aratere’s stern were progressing well, he said.��

“We need to insert new plating, then have the repair approved. We will put on additional sailings to manage capacity if required and are contacting customers directly.”��

Roy expected Aratere to return to service over the weekend.��

Maritime NZ said it was working to gather further information about what happened.��

“This information will guide potential further action we may take as a result of this incident,” the maritime watchdog said in a statement.��

As recently as Tuesday, sailings on board Aratere were cancelled due to a fault discovered during pre-departure checks.��

Roy told the��Herald��the fault was due to a technical problem involving a pump.��

It was fixed in time for sailings to resume by 4.30pm that day.��

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has said KiwiRail needs to lift its game, which is why��shareholding ministers were refreshing the state-owned enterprise’s board.��

Asked whether he was pulling his hair out over KiwiRail, Brown said: “Well, yes.”��

KiwiRail��has been under intense scrutiny in recent months after its plan to��replace its ageing ferry fleet with two mega ferries��was left dead in the water.��The Government refused to fund a cost blowout of $1.47 billion��for the portside infrastructure needed to support the larger ships.��

The Government��has yet to announce a��new plan to replace the fleet.��

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.��