Click photo to enlarge
Meridian's new catamaran makes its way into Otago Harbour
late yesterday afternoon. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Meridian's new $2.7 million catamaran ferry slipped
quietly into Dunedin last night for a refuelling stop as part
of its maiden voyage.
The ferry, The Mararoa, docked at Port Chalmers and was due
to sail for Bluff this morning, before being trucked to Lake
Manapouri, Meridian spokesman Gerald Raymond said.
The 19m ferry was launched in Wanganui last week, and would
be used to transport staff to and from Meridian's Manapouri
power station at West Arm on Lake Manapouri, Mr Raymond said.
The faster, more fuel-efficient ferry would replace two
ageing vessels - Endeavour and Resolution - which were built
in the 1960s, he said.
As well as using less fuel, the twin-hulled vessel's wake
would be smaller, reducing the impact on the environment, he
said.
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