Bluebridge ferry Santa Regina remains out of service on the Cook Strait run this week while international attempts are made to locate spare parts relating to the ship's camshaft problems. 

The ferry struggled in to Wellington Harbour on Friday morning after one of its two engines broke down on an overnight sailing from Wellington to Picton. 

Bluebridge spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said Santa Regina's sister ship, The Straitsman, had gone on to Santa Regina's timetable and had sailed out of Wellington this morning for Picton at 8am.

The company was seeking to locate a "vibration damper" part for the damaged engine camshaft.

"We are looking to source this part from offshore. As yet we don't know when we will be back in service with the two ships," Ms Pannett said.

Santa Regina was escorted back to its Glasgow Wharf berth on Friday morning, after making a freight-only return sailing from Picton to Wellington, via the northern channel by a CentrePort tug.

Santa Regina joined the Bluebridge fleet in December 2002.

Ms Pannett said the Straitsman would do two return sailings per day leaving Wellington for Picton at 8am and 9pm and leaving Picton for Wellington at 2pm and 2:30am.

"We are being proactive about contacting passengers and freight operators booked on the Santa Regina," Ms Pannett said.

Contact Tim Donoghue
General reporter
Email: tim.donoghue@dompost.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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