Changes planned for Cook Strait ferry

Press, 21 July 1988, Page 20

Changes planned for Cook Strait ferry

PA Wellington Plans for improving the Cook Strait rail ferry service have been released.

The changes reflect the positive future rail ferries have in servicing Cook Strait and include substantial improvements to customer facilities and a new fleet configuration in the 19905, says the Railway Corporation’s general manager, Mr Kevin Hyde. The planned changes are a result of a review of Searail, the trading division of the corporation responsible for the ferry service, by a British maritime transport consultant, Steer Davies and Gleave, Ltd. “Searail’s consultant was very positive. This was conditional, however, on implementation of the measures aimed at making Searail more attractive to existing and potential customers and more cost-effective,” Mr Hyde

said. “Searail is already an efficient operation, there is a high degree of customer satisfaction and staff on board work hard to maintain the level of service. “The need for change arises because we are operating in a new competitive world where further means of increasing efficiency must be pursued, and where competition, particularly from air travel, has to be taken very seriously.” The brief to the consultant was to identify strengths and weaknesses, “to tell us the likely shape of our business by the year 2000 and our longterm requirements to accommodate that business.” The consultant was also

asked to produce a shortterm plan to ensure continued profitability. “The changes recommended will ensure that we meet the needs of customers more effectively and that we become a much more efficient business," Mr Hyde said. Planned changes are: ® Improving ferries and services offered to customers. This will include large-scale refurbishment of ships and terminals to present a consistent, high quality service throughout. An aggressive marketing campaign will include development of holiday and business packages concentrating on different sectors of the market. Passenger facilities will be restyled to improve the services offered and sub-

sequently increase revenue. ® The arrangement between Searail and the corporation’s Rail Transport Division for carrying freight across Cook Strait will be strengthened. ® Priority will be given to improving efficiency by improving Searail’s financial control and management systems, with a new computerised reservations system. Growth is predicted in all three Searail markets — railfreight, passengers and commercial vehicles — but Searail needs to be placed on a firmer footing to meet competition and to continue as a profitable part of the corporation. At this stage the possible options include maintaining a service

with large multi-purpose ferries the size of the Arahura or larger or taking advantage of new technologies, combining a surface-effect vessel service (ie, large catamarans) for walk-on passengers and some cars, with roll-on roll-off vessels for rail, commercial vehicles and accompanied cars. The medium-term options will remain under review. The maritime unions have been briefed on the proposed changes and have agreed to negotiate with the corporation in respect of those issues which affect their members, Mr Hyde said. Those negotiations will take place over the next few months.