New ferry service to Wgtn planned

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 1

New ferry service to Wgtn planned

Contracts which will clear the way for a new roll-on ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington will be signed this week, according to a Christchurch businessman. Mr R. B. McKenzie said last evening that the service would start in the first week of August. He said he had been negotiating to lease a ship owned by a French shipping line, and would fly to London on Thursday to view the vessel and sign contracts for financing the venture. Interest shown by manufacturers in the service had been "incredible,” he said. The company he has formed for the venture, Pacifica Shipping, already had contracts with potential users of the service. Three return sailings each week would be the aim. Mr McKenzie was last year involved in an attempt to take over the Skybus alternative airline, and in 1978 with a venture to recover gold from the 114-year-old wreck of the General Grant near the Auckland Islands. In spite of the problems experienced by New Zealand Railways when it ran a ferry service, Mr McKenzie said he w’as confident his company’s service would be profitable.

“The previous ferry was a passenger ferry," lie said. "Once, you get into passenger services your manning levels become astronomical."

The vessel being leased is a 100-metre 1500-tonne ship, the Sealord Bravo, which

will be renamed the Margaret Jane.

He said it would be about the same size as the present rail ferries, would be able to carry 40 18-metre trailers and 95 cars, and had accommodation on board for nine drivers. Rates on the service would be lower than those charged for freight on the WellingtonPicton ferries and other coastal services between Wellington and Lyttelton.

Mr McKenzie said there was no question of his company trying to undercut other services. The rates proposed just “suited" the company.

Financiers would be buying the boat and in turn his company, Pacifica Shipping, would "lease purchase" the vessel over four years. . Mr McKenzie said the ship would be run on behalf of his company by McKay Shipping of Auckland.

“I'm just a businessman. I won’t be heavily involved in

The only thing that could prevent the service from starting would be if his financiers changed the terms of their loans.

He said the Wellington and Lyttelton harbour boards had bent over backwards to help him and he said the link spans formerly used by the Union Steam Ship Company ferries Wahine and Rangatira would ,be used.

Mr McKenzie said negotiations with trade unions were continuing on a number of points, including manning levels.

The service would employ 60 New Zealanders, he said.