The East by West ferry apparently lost power while transporting passengers. Pictured, police help get passengers back to Queens Wharf. Photo: STUFF / Mark Zimmerman
Wellington's new electric ferry appears to have lost power in the middle of a trip this afternoon, resulting in a police boat having to take its passengers back to shore.
Emergency procedures were followed by its skipper and deckhand when the ferry lost propulsion on Thursday afternoon, said transport operator Metlink's general manager Samantha Gain.
After all passengers were transferred safely to a police launch and ferried back to Queens Wharf, the sailing was replaced by a diesel vessel and passengers were then taken to Eastbourne in Lower Hutt - where the original sailing was headed.
As of 4.15pm Thursday the Ika Rere was secured at Wellington's Queens Wharf, Gain said.
Maritime New Zealand had been informed, and a relevant investigation report would follow, Gain said.
The Ika Rere electric ferry docked at the Seaview Marina in Lower Hutt. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Greater Wellington Regional Council spokesperson Jesse Gerritsen said it wouldn't know the exact cause of the incident until Friday.
The Ika Rere ferry "lost propulsion", Gerritsen said.
Metlink posted service alerts on its website, advising travellers that the 2pm sailing from Queens Wharf and the 3.20pm sailing from Days Bay on Thursday were both cancelled.
The Ika Rere (flying fish) made its first trip across the harbour, from Days Bay to Queens Wharf, in March.
Ika Rere is the first electric passenger ferry in the Southern Hemisphere.
East by West Ferries previously said there were very few electric craft in the world that came close to its performance.
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