Interislander Freight

Welcome to Interislander Freight - specialists in Cook Strait transportation. The team is dedicated to servicing your freight needs, and we have a range of service options available to meet your specific requirements. Interislander Freight offers a variety of sailing times and a diverse fleet to cater for commercial trucks, livestock, over-dimensional freight and machinery. With a specialised tug service, we can ensure your trailer units are effectively loaded and transported. For more information on dedicated services click on the relevant website links or contact our customer service team - they are there to help.

Download a spreadsheet of the latest fuel prices (50kb)

Latest News

Maritime New Zealand Lashing Point Requirements

All heavy vehicles (in excess of 3500kg gross laden weight) travelling on Interislander's services must be fitted with securing points so that they can be lashed to the ship's deck to prevent movement at sea. From 30 May 2012, an amendment to NZ Maritime Law S24B lashing requirements came into force requiring all lashing points on all trailer configurations to comply and be fitted in accordance with ISO9367 Points 1 and 2. A copy of these requirements can be obtained from Standards New Zealand or the links from the Travel Requirement section of this website.

Dangerous Goods Online System

The online booking system for dangerous goods on Interislander ferries developed by Freight Services is winning plaudits from customers delighted with the new system.

The system was trialled in August and has now been rolled out to all customers.

The benefits to Interislander from the new system, called Passport, could be measured by the time the manifests were received and their accuracy.

“We are receiving our manifests a lot earlier than we previously experienced and they are more accurate. To date, we have had over 1500 manifests submitted through this system with no more than 10 rejected due to inaccuracies in the system. Under our previous method, we would have rejected approximately 150 over the same period.”

Interislander carries about 250 dangerous goods shipments a week on the freight-only sailings at night and the early hours of the morning, so if something was wrong with the manifest under the old system, it can be complicated and time-consuming to fix.

“Under the manual system, dangerous good certificates were generally completed at the end of the day when the trucks were loaded at their warehouse of departure. When it was completed by our customer, they would leave for the day. We would then check the certificate and if incorrect, call the customer after hours, and have them return to the office to get it corrected, re-signed and re-faxed to our office. No one really liked that process.”

“With this new tool, they go online and submit it online. It self-checks, so if they leave bits out, it won’t submit. By the time we get the manifests, it’s all checked and ready to go.” “We have recently conducted a survey with some of the clients that use the system and they have all said they do not want to go back to the old method and several have reported considerable time savings to them in their working day.”

The new system is provided to Interislander customers free of charge, and is a competitive advantage point for the company.

Neil Brewer said another feature of the tool is that it checks the contents of the dangerous goods shipments to ensure they are compatible.

“It makes it much safer for us.” Commercial freight manager Ross Allen said the Passport project was seen as a value added opportunity that would make compilation of Dangerous Goods Manifests more formal, more accurate and easier for ourselves and our customers alike.

Neil Brewer said he was proud of the system that has been developed and grateful that Interislander has supported the idea all the way through to fruition.

New Commercial Vehicle Check in Facilities Use Technology to Speed Process for Interislander and Customers

New high tech check in facilities are smoothing the passage for commercial vehicles crossing the Cook Strait, says Interislander. Part of a multi $Million upgrade of the Wellington and Picton ferry terminals, the new terminal infrastructure layout and integrated IT control system will speed the loading and turnaround of Interislander’s vessels while providing commercial vehicle customers with accurate information to help their business.

“We have established new procedures for commercial vehicle check in, but we are using technology to make things quick and simple for the drivers,” comments Interislander’s terminal services manager, David Shepherd.

“With the installation of weigh bridges at both terminals, we have taken the opportunity to log actual vehicle weights and arrival times, which can now be collated for each customer to help with fleet management so we can both make use of the information,” Adds Mr Shepherd. “The improvements also give us the ability to increase security.”

At each terminal, commercial vehicles drive over a weigh bridge as they arrive. Customers are issued with a credit card sized identity card with a unique code, which is scanned by the drivers themselves at the entry control point. Authenticated drivers are then given the green light to proceed to the marshalling area. The weight is recorded and check in occurs automatically as they pass through to the marshalling yard entry point.

“We will have staff to help with queries and check in less regular customers who may not have a card,” explains Mr Shepherd. There is also a barcode controlled exit lane to control and record departures.

“The new infrastructure layout, IT control system and streamlined information processes will also allow easier ferry loading, as we have a record of the exact weight of each truck we are sending on board,” concludes Mr Shepherd. “We are confident that we have harnessed technology to achieve substantial business benefits for Interislander and our freight customers.”

Ferry Terminal Improvements

A series of improvements are to be completed at the Interislander's Wellington and Picton terminals in advance of the next peak season. Interislander Terminal Services Manager David Shepherd says the developments are intended to streamline check-ins for commercial vehicles and make the marshalling areas, where passengers wait in their cars to be loaded, safer and more customer-friendly.

At the Wellington terminal, this will entail new toilet facilities, security gates and a motorcycle shelter, as well as improved lighting and a dedicated passenger walkway to the terminal building. There will be a new express check-in for commercial customers, the surface of the existing marshalling area will be "tidied up", and signage, long-term customer car-parking and staff car-parking improved. Similarly, at Picton this will entail new express check-in facilities, security gates and toilets introduced, with marshalling improvements speeding up loadings and unloadings.