The New Zealand Government, through its procurement company Ferry Holdings Limited, has selected Guangzhou Shipyard International as the builder of two new ferries, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced.
“GSI is the largest modern integrated shipbuilding enterprise in Southern China, founded in 1954 and is listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges,” Peters said.
According to the minister, negotiations between Ferry Holdings and GSI are ongoing, and details will be released after the talks conclude, along with port agreements with CentrePort Limited and Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited.
Peters confirmed that major components of the project include a fixed price, completion in 2029, and full delivery of specifications for two 200-metre-long ferries.
Each vessel will have road and rail decks and capacity for 1,500 passengers.
He added that a further announcement would be made before the end of the year, outlining the agreements and potential taxpayer savings resulting from the cancellation of project iReX and a return to the original ferry replacement plan launched in May 2020.
Ferry Holdings Limited is a state-owned procurement entity established by the New Zealand Government to manage the replacement of the country’s inter-island ferry fleet and associated infrastructure projects.
Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited (GSI) is a Chinese shipbuilding enterprise founded in 1954. It operates as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC). The company builds various commercial and naval vessels, including tankers, ferries, and offshore engineering ships.
