sold to Breakers as is Singapore
News
ARATERE
KiwiRail has confirmed that the 'Aratere' will be retiring no later than Aug 30 after it was revealed at the end of April that the ferry would be pulled from service on the Cook Strait this year, to make way for the required Picton port re-development in preparation for the two brand-new Cook Strait ferries arriving in 2029. Work on Picton wharf could begin as soon as October, and no later than March 2026. The vessel, which had served the Cook Strait since 1999, required specific loading and unloading infrastructure so it could not use the other Interislander wharf in Picton. KiwiRail has talked to customers and has confirmed a new two-ship timetable and coordinating rail timetable, as well as developing a plan for road bridging during the transition to the new rail-enabled ships. More than 2200 passenger bookings have now been transferred from the 'Aratere' to the 'Kaitaki' and 'Kaiārahi'. If replacement bookings do not suit customers, they can change their booking without any change fee or receive a full refund. Holders of more than 2500 passenger bookings affected by a change in departure time with the move to the new two-ship timetable have also been notified of their new departure time. Freight customers will be contacted from May 20 to lock in their freight requirements.
KRITI I
The 'Kriti I' was prepared to leave the dock of Eleusis for its final voyage, bound for the scrapyard in Turkey, following the'Kriti II', which already headed to the breakers in March. On May 18, the ship was taken in tow by the tug 'Protug 85-1' (IMO: 9995935) with an ETA at Aliaga as of May 21. The ship was sold for scrap along with the sister ship on March 7, 2025, thus ending a 28-year career in Greek coastal shipping. The 'Kriti I' had been decommissioned in the Gulf of Elefsina since October 7, 2024. It had purchased en bloc with the 'Kriti II' by the ANEK LINES in May 1996 and launched on the Patras - Igoumenitsa - Ancona route in June 1997. At that time, they were the largest RoPax ferries in the Adriatic. Report with photos and video: https://www.chaniaships.com/post/%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B7-%CE%B9?fbclid=IwY2xjawKX2LJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHidM-S3_HUrPzzl8t2hWMMmG2Lj8ElO7_0EVvXJbmUnNWK2W50Ux1C3eDMAD_aem_W47kwuKDpupqNItGO1ZlPQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xNQbjxWAm0