GMV Aranui


GMV Aranui was a roll-on roll-off train ferry operating across the Cook Strait between 1965 and 1983.

History

Government Motor Vessel Aranui was built in 1965 for the New Zealand Railways Department for the service between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. She was built by Vickers in England. In February 1965, she sailed via the Panama Canal, arriving at Wellington on 28 May and entered service with her sister. In 1977 she was rebuilt at Dunedin to carry 950 passengers to meet the increased traffic, following the company's main competitor, the Union Company's withdrawal from the route.
In 1983, Aranui and Aramoana were replaced by the significantly larger MV Arahura. Aranui was laid up at Wellington in June 1984 and sold four months later to the Najd Trading & Construction Company of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Renamed Aranui A and then Nui, she commenced service carrying Muslim pilgrims on the Red Sea.
In 1986, she was renamed Najd III. Five years later, following an engine failure, she was laid up at Singapore. In 1992, her owners were unable to make progress payments for a repair/refit. She arrived at a Chittagong breaker's yard on 3 November 1994.

Layout

Aranui was slightly larger than Aramoana. She had a higher bridge and funnel than her older sister ship.
A combined vehicle deck could carry 70 cars and 30 rail wagons.

Service

Aranui was built to provide a railway service between Wellington and Picton, later known as the Interislander.

Footnotes