The Interislander ferry has successfully berthed in Picton after a 12-hour journey but more ferries are still at sea.
Photo: RNZ / Barry Guy
Around 570 passengers were stranded on the Interislander for 10 hours, with return sailings cancelled, after strong winds prevented the ferry from berthing.
The ferry Kaitaki left Wellington for Picton at 9am today but failed to berth in Picton at midday as gusts reached about 140km/h.
A map of the Kaitaki's route up and down the Marlborough Sounds. Photo: Supplied
KiwiRail said part of the Picton terminal had also been damaged by the winds.
Interislander general manager Walter Rushbrook said it arrived shortly after 9pm.
All passengers have disembarked.
Staff are aiming to accommodate delayed passengers and vehicles in the next 24 hours.
However, two Bluebridge ferries are still at sea, with one about to berth.
The Feronia left Wellington at 8.20am and is on its way to berth in Picton.
The Straitsman was delayed from Wellington due to the weather and did not leave until 4.45pm.
Several hundred passengers are on board both ships.
Rushbrook said the conditions had been unusually bad today.
"We were expecting reasonable swells out in Cook Strait but having very, very high winds like this in Picton is most unusual.
"In fact a number of the people who have been in our team for many years have said they've never come across this before where it's gone all afternoon."
Photo: RNZ / Barry Guy
Rushbrook said the ferry was doing lazy loops in Queen Charlotte Sound and hoped to dock betwen 8pm and 9pm.
Picton tugs were in position to assist with berthing if necessary.
The delays have also affected two return Interislander services, which have been cancelled.