The Cook Strait lies between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast, and runs next to the capital city, Wellington. It is 22 kilometres (14 miles) wide at its narrowest point, and is considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world. The strait is named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it, in 1770. Two ferry companies Bluebridge and Interislander operate ferries from Wellington to Picton.
The 13,906gt Straitsman of Bluebridge was built in 2005 by Volharding at Foxhol and completed by De Merwede at Hardingxveld as the Dueodde for Bornholmstrafikken AS. She joined Bluebridge in 2010 and is seen here in the Cook Strait in January 2015.
Interislander’s 22,365gt Kaitaki leaving Picton. She was built in 1995 by Van der Giessen-de Noord at Krimpen a/d Ijssel as the Isle of Innisfree for Irish Ferries. In 2002 she was chartered to P&O Ferries to operate their Portsmouth to Cherbourg service. In 2005 she was sub-chartered by P&O initially to Stena Line as Stena Challenger and then to Interislander as Challenger. The Maori translation of Challenger is Kaitaki and she was officially renamed that in 2007.
The Aratere of Interislander was built in 1998 by Barrreras at Vigo. In 2011 she was lengthened by 33 metres (108 feet), which increased her gross tonnage from 12,596 to 17,816.
The 14,588gt Santa Regina of Bluebridge was built in 1985 at Nouvelle Le Havre for CMN La Meridionale de Navigation to operate the Marseilles to Propriano and Porto Torres service. She moved to New Zealand in 2003.
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