View source for MV Aratika

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=MV Aratika rail ferry post-1976-refit.jpg
|Ship caption=Aratika following her 1976 refit}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship name=MV ''Aratika''
|Ship flag={{flagicon|NZL|size=60px}}
|Ship owner=
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=
|Ship route=[[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] - [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Chantiers Dubigeon]], [[Nantes]]
|Ship original cost=[[New Zealand dollar|$NZ]] 8.8 million
|Ship yard number=138
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=8 November 1973
|Ship completed=
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship in service=1974
|Ship out of service=1999
|Ship identification={{IMO Number|7347835}}
|Ship fate=Sold to MBRS Lines as ''MV Virgin Mary'' in the [[Philippines]] in 1999. Scrapped in 2008
|Ship notes=}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Roll-on/roll-off]], [[train ferry]]
|Ship tonnage={{GT|9035}} (prior to refit)
|Ship displacement=4,089 net tons (prior to refit)
|Ship length={{convert|127.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|18.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft={{convert|5.09|m|ft|abbr=on}}
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|Ship propulsion= 2 x [[SEMT Pielstick]]
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|Ship capacity=840 passengers (originally 10), 70 cars (originally 4), rail wagons
|Ship crew=
|Ship notes=}}
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'''MV ''Aratika''''' was a [[roll-on/roll-off]] [[train ferry]] that operated on the ''[[Interislander]]'' between [[Wellington]] and [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] in New Zealand from 1974 until 1999.

According to the [[Ministry for Culture & Heritage]], Aratika is a [[Māori-language]] word meaning direct path.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

==History==

[[File:MV Aratika rail ferry as originally built.jpg|thumb|left|Aratika as originally built as a freight-only vessel]]''Aratika'' was built by [[Chantiers Dubigeon]] in France for the [[New Zealand Railways Department]] to operate between [[Wellington]] and [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]].<ref>Fourth Ferry on Order ''[[Network (periodical)|Network]]'' June 1971 page 1</ref> She was built to carry rail freight only.<ref>New ferry to be rail only ''[[Rails (magazine)|Rails]]'' September 1973 page 14</ref> Launched in November 1973, the ship arrived in Wellington in June 1974.<ref>Fourth NZ rail ferry launched ''Network'' December 1973 page 1</ref><ref>Aratika launching ''Rails'' January 1974 page 15</ref><ref>Fourth ferry here ''Rails'' August 1974 page 11</ref>

In 1976 she was converted by [[Hongkong United Dockyards]] to carry passengers and private vehicles as well as [[railway wagon]]s.<ref>Down to the Sea in Trains ''Network'' March 1976 page 4</ref> This increased her passenger capacity from 10 to 840, and the car space from four to 70.<ref>Rebuilt Aratika back in service ''Rails'' May 1977 page 15</ref>

During her 25 years of service, the vessel completed 27,265 crossings and traveled an overall distance of {{convert|1,400,000|mi|km}}.

In 1999, she was sold to MBRS Lines in the [[Philippines]] and served as MV ''Virgin Mary'' until 2008, when she was sold to Indian [[ship-breaker]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=On the waterfront: Former ferry ready for last run|url= http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/15119/on-waterfront-former-ferry-ready-last-run|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=28 July 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/aratika.htm Aratika] at New Zealand Maritime Record

{{New Zealand inter-island ferries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aratika}}
[[Category:Cook Strait ferries]]
[[Category:Ferries of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Ships built by Chantiers Dubigeon]]
[[Category:1973 ships]]
[[Category:Train ferries]]


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