New Cook Strait ferries to be built by large Chinese shipbuilding company

Previous concept render of New Zealand's new Ro-Pax ferries before its order was cancelled.KiwiRail

Chinese company Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) has been selected to build two large ferries as part of its national ferry replacement programme, Rail Minister Winston Peters has announced.

GSI, which was listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges, was southern China’s “largest modern integrated shipbuilder”, and was founded in 1954, Peters said in a statement.

“We want the best deal possible for New Zealand taxpayers and a shipbuilder of the competence, capability and capacity of GSI underscores the high degree of confidence in our no-nonsense ferry replacement programme.”

The two new 200-metre ferries will each accommodate 1500 passengers and include both road and rail decks, Peters said.

While negotiations were still underway between the Government's procurement company Ferry Holdings Limited, and GSI, Peters said key components of the deal for the Interislander replacements had already been secured — including a fixed price and a completion date set for 2029.

Peters confirmed that further details, including port agreements with CentrePort Limited and Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited, would be released once negotiations were complete.

Source: stuff.co.nz