StraitNZ

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StraitNZ Limited
FormerlyStrait Shipping
Bluebridge
IndustryPassenger and freight shipping, freight forwarding and logistics
PredecessorStrait Shipping, Streamline Freight, Freight Lines
Founded1992
FounderJim Barker and Dennis Dow
HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
Area served
New Zealand
RevenueNZ$175 million (2021)
NZ$45 million (2021)
Number of employees
500 (2021)
ParentMorgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (2022–present)
SubsidiariesBluebridge
StraitNZ Freight Forwarding
StraitNZ Linehaul
Websitewww.straitnz.co.nz

StraitNZ, formerly Strait Shipping, is a New Zealand transport firm that operates roll-on/roll-off freight and passenger shipping across Cook Strait between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island, and trucking and logistics services across New Zealand.[1] Originally a freight-only service, passenger services commenced in 2002 and operate under the Bluebridge brand.[2][3] As of 2021, Bluebridge holds 56% of the market for vehicle freight and 31% of the market for passenger services across Cook Strait.[4] The company was acquired on 31 March 2022 by Morgan Stanley [5]

History

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The company has its origins in Otorohanga Transport, founded by Jim Barker and Dennis Dow in 1963.[6]

Inter-island ferry operations began in 1992 as Strait Shipping Limited,[3] as a way for Barker to provide more affordable inter-island ferry services for his trucking group. Ferries between the North and South Islands of New Zealand were then monopolised by the Interisland Line, owned by the then state-owned enterprise New Zealand Rail (privatised in 1993 and renamed Tranz Rail in 1995). As of 2022, the two companies still hold a duopoly on interisland ferry services.

As well as operating across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton, Strait Shipping has in the past also operated freight shipping between Wellington and Napier, also in the North Island, and Nelson and Lyttelton in the South Island.

Bluebridge was launched as the passenger service brand of Strait Shipping in 2003.[7]

In 2016, Strait Shipping was sold to Australian-based Champ Private Equity Group.[8][7] At the same time, Champ Group also purchased trucking companies Freight Lines and Streamline Freight, which had both been separately owned by the Barker family.[7] At the time, the trucking and ferry companies owned by the Barker family were estimated to employ around 750 people.

On 29 March 2018 Strait Shipping Limited was renamed StraitNZ,[9] with passenger services continuing to operate under the Bluebridge brand.[1] Sister companies Freight Lines and Streamline [7] were rebranded as "StraitNZ Linehaul" and "StraitNZ Freight Forwarding"[1] respectively. That year, a 25% stake in the company was acquired by Macquarie.

In December 2021, the StraitNZ Group was sold by Champ Private Equity and Macquarie to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, for a reported sale price of NZ$500 million.[10] The acquisition was completed in March 2022.

As of 2021, StraitNZ’s Bluebridge ferry unit was reported to have a 56% market share for Cook Strait vehicle freight, and a 31% market share for passenger services. The remaining share is held by Interislander, a subsidiary of New Zealand Government-owned KiwiRail.[4]

Fleet

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Current

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Name Image Shipyard Launched Entered service Port of registry Tonnage Notes
Connemara Italy Cantiere Navale Visentini, Porto Viro, Italy 2007 2023 The Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas 27,414 GT [11]
Livia File:Stena Livia - Stena Line (51132114355).jpg Italy Cantiere Navale Visentini, Porto Viro, Italy 2008 2025 [12]

The Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas

26,904 GT [13]

Past

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Name Image Shipyard Launched Entered service Retired Tonnage Notes
Straitsman (1972) Australia NQEA, Cairns, Australia 1972 1992 2004 1,481 GT Strait Shipping's first vessel. It transported livestock and launched Strait Shipping's service across Cook Strait between Wellington, Picton and Nelson. In service until replaced by Santa Regina in 2002.[14]
Suilven File:The Stornoway ferry off Ullapool - geograph.org.uk - 1552974.jpg Norway Moss Verft, Moss, Norway 1974 1995 2004 3,638 GT [14]
Kent Japan Ishikawajima-Harima Shipyard, Tokyo, Japan 1977 2001 2010 6,862 GT [14]
Santa Regina File:Bluebridge Santa Regina in Picton 20100121 4.jpg France Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre (fr), Le Havre, France 1985 2002 2015 14,588 GT [14]
Monte Stello File:Monte Stello one of Bluebridges interisland ferries -Picton harbour, New Zealand-15Oct2010.jpg France Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre (fr), Le Havre, France 1979 2006 2010 11,630 GT Lost power in Tory Channel on 2 May 2008.[14][15]
Straitsman (2005) File:Straitsman Ferry.JPG Netherlands Volharding Shipyards (nl), Netherlands 2005 2010 2023 13,906 GT Now operated by Condor Ferries in the United Kingdom
Strait Feronia File:Strait Feronia Wellington En Route to Picton (26693776091) (cropped).jpg Italy Cantiere Navale Visentini, Porto Viro, Italy 1997 2015 2025 21,856 GT Replaced by Livia;[16] sold to Egypt in September 2025 for Red Sea service as Pan Lily.[17]

References

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