GMV Aranui

GMV Aranui was a roll-on/roll-off train ferry operating across the Cook Strait between 1965 and 1984.

History
Government Motor Vessel (GMV) Aranui was built in 1965 for the New Zealand Railways Department for the service between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. She was built by Vickers in England. In February 1965, she sailed via the Panama Canal, arriving in Wellington on 28 May and entered service with her sister GMV Aramoana on 9 June. In 1977 she was rebuilt by Sims Engineering, Dunedin to carry 950 passengers to meet the increased traffic, following the company's main competitor, the Union Company's withdrawal from the route.

In 1983, Aranui and Aramoana were replaced by the significantly larger Arahura. Aranui was laid up in Wellington in June 1984 and sold four months later to the Najd Trading & Construction Company of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Renamed Aranui A and then Nui, she commenced service carrying Muslim pilgrims on the Red Sea.

In 1986, the ship was renamed Najd III. Five years later, following an engine failure, she was laid up at Singapore. In 1992, her owners were unable to make progress payments for a repair/refit. She arrived at a Chittagong breaker's yard on 3 November 1994.

Layout
Aranui was slightly larger than Aramoana. She had a higher bridge and funnel than her older sister ship. A combined vehicle deck could carry 70 cars and 30 rail wagons.

Service
Aranui was built to operate a railway service between Wellington and Picton, later known as the Interislander.