At Picton, the northern-most port of South Island, New Zealand, the “Kaitaki” was ready to sail since its engines had been running for some time and its chimneys emitted dark smoke (see the top photo). Ho Keung and Yin Ping were already on board this ferry waiting for their sea journey to Wellington to begin. Their rented car was also inside this vehicular ferry. It was a giant ferry, over 180 metres long and had a gross weight of 22365 tonnes. It could carry a maximum of 1600 passengers. (In the past, our 3-decker Yaumati ferry to Cheung Chau or Silver Mine Bay could carry about 1000 passengers.) It was unbelievable that this ferry could also carry a total of 600 cars. The main use of this ferry, I guess, is to deliver drivers and cars between the North and South Islands
The orange-coloured life-boats and rafts were placed at the side of the ferry for emergency use only. At the top deck, passengers could take a good view of the harbour before the ferry began its journey to Wellington. It was August 31st, 2007.
The harbour at Picton is well-protected by hills on all sides with houses built in different levels up the hills. The sea water was blue, clear and pacific. (Ours in Hong Kong is dark green and darker near the piers owing to pollution by garbage and waste oil.) The small boats here were mainly yachts and close-shore fishing boats. Most of them anchored at the buoys of the harbour.
The view of the harbour in the bottom photo was terrific. To me, I can feel the life of the New Zealanders to be a relaxed and ease of mind one.
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3 comments:
We become celebrities again!
The "Kaitaki" means "Challenger", it is the biggest ferry on New Zealand waters. The 1600 passengers are not crowded together but scattered in different areas, like the sitting lounge with comfortable arm-chairs and small tables, the dining lounge with big tables or the open deck.
Meals are provided in the dinning lounge but not for free. you can still sit there whether you want to have a meal or not.
For passengers travelling in vehicles, they are not allowed to stay inside the vehicles during the voyage. The standard fee for the 3 hours one way trip is $69 and $185 New Zealand dollars for each passenger and each car respectively.
There is no entertainment on board. You can buy postcards or little souvenirs at the reception desk. There is also a mail box.
The voyage is really peaceful before the ferry goes to the open sea. once out there it can get a bit rough with nothing in sight but the vast ocean with its waves until approaching the destination port.
This ferry belongs to the company "interislander". There is another company called the "Bluebridge" provides the same service. On the day we mistakenly queued at the latter company for a little while!
What a nice "Inside Story" you have told me! Very good indeed!
I can only tell the "Outside Story" from the photos you sent me because I was not on board.
When the two Stories merge together, I hope it will be a complete story!
Sorry we hadn't been able to answer your questions before you put this into print, hence we tried to write the comment mainly according to your questions.
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