The New Zealand Interisland ferry Aratere went hard aground near Picton due to a steering failure. The 25-year-old vessel, carrying freight and crew, veered off course about 1.5 nautical miles north of Picton. There were no injuries, and no oil leaks or water ingress were reported. Efforts to refloat the vessel are being delayed for hull inspections. The incident adds to KiwiRail’s ongoing challenges, with the government criticizing its fleet maintenance and previously halted plans for new ferries.
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The Maritime-Hub Editorial Team
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