Six international shipbuilders have been shortlisted to construct two new Cook Strait ferries, a critical step in the government’s renewed plan to modernise its inter-island transport link after the collapse of the costly iReX project.
The shortlisted shipyards — yet to be publicly named — were selected by Ferry Holdings Limited, the government-established entity now overseeing the replacement project.
Chair of Ferry Holdings, Chris Mackenzie, confirmed that the management team has met virtually with all six contenders and will visit their sites in the coming weeks. The chosen yards are now preparing formal bids to deliver two approximately 200-metre-long rail-enabled ferries, each capable of transporting 1500 passengers, 40 rail wagons, and offering 2.4 kilometres of vehicle lanes.
The government has emphasised cost-efficiency in this iteration of the project. Unlike the scrapped iReX initiative, which ballooned to $3 billion due to extensive port infrastructure demands, the new plan prioritises what Minister for Rail Winston Peters has described as a “minimum viable and maximum reuse” approach. Major marine infrastructure upgrades will occur only in Picton, while Wellington’s facilities will be adapted rather than overhauled.
The closed tender process is supported by a panel of international advisors, including naval architects Knud E Hansen, interior specialists OSK Design, maritime lawyers Holman Fenwick Willan, and shipbrokers BRS Shipbrokers. These experts are assisting Ferry Holdings in evaluating proposals on criteria such as shipyard experience, innovation, and financial stability.
Peters has championed the rail-enabled design, rejecting prior recommendations for road-only ferries and insisting on a competitive tender process. He has described the shortlisted yards as “serious contenders” capable of delivering the vessels on time for their 2029 launch.