New Zealand released on 06 August 2008 a set of 26 stamps of 0.50 NZ dollar, with the alphabet, one of this stamp shows the “I is for Interislander”, and shows us a silhouette of two of the ships of the Interisland Ferries between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island.
The Interislander has three ships in service the ARAHURA, ARATERA and the KAITAKI, comparing the silhouette with photo’s of the three ships, the vessel in the background of the stamp looks the same as the ARAHURA, the other two have a different silhouette. The vessel on the foreground of which only the bow is depict I believe is an impression of a vessel, the bow is much to long for one of the vessels of the Interisland fleet.
Built as a ro-ro ferry under yard 245 by the Aalborg Vaerft A/S shipyard in Aalborg, Denmark for the New Zealand Government, New Zealand Railways.
January 1982 building contract signed.
18 March 1983 launched as the ARAHURA what means “pathway to dawn” in the Maori language.
Tonnage 7.583 grt, 2.457 dwt. Dim. 148.37 x 20.25 x 11,80m, length bpp. 137m., draught 5.47m.
Powered diesel electric by four Wärtsila diesel each 3.800 kW., twin shafts and are driven by double propulsion motors each 6.700kW. , controllable pitch propellers, speed maximum 22 knots, service speed 19 knots.
Two 680 kW. bow thrusters
Accommodation for 1.085 passengers, crew 71.
Capacity 232 cars or 60 rail wagons and 27 lorries.
Double shore based link spans enable both rail wagons and vehicles to be handled over the stern simultaneously.
November 1883 completed. Port of registry, Wellington.
After arrival in New Zealand in the 51 mile Interisland service between the North and South Island of New Zealand from December 1983.
The crossing takes around 3 hours.
21 May 1999 during a rescue drill, a lifeboat dropped about 10 meters in the water, killing one crew member when she neared Picton.
2008 In service, tonnage given as 13.621 grt, 4.086 net, 2.457 dwt., owned by Kiwirail Ltd., Auckland and managed by Interisland Line, Wellington. IMO No. 8201454.
Passenger accommodation for 550 passengers, crew 49.
Vehicle capacity around 124 cars and 60 railway wagons.
New Zealand 2008 50c sg?, scott?
Source: Marine News 1984/35, some web-sites and http://www.equasis.org