ABB has been selected as the power, propulsion and automation technology partner for two new ro-pax ferries, to be named ‘Kupe’ and ‘Cook’, which form part of Cook Strait ferry replacement programme, one of New Zealand’s most strategically important infrastructure investments.
ABB will supply the integrated systems required to ensure the reliability, efficiency and environmental performance of the two ferries. To be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), the ferries will be delivered to New Zealand Government entity Ferry Holdings Limited in 2029.
The 200m long, 28m wide ferries will operate in the challenging conditions of the Cook Strait – Te Moana-o-Raukawa in Māori – at the junction of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, making the 92km Wellington-Picton crossing between the North and South Islands. They will offer capacity for 63% more passengers (1,530 persons) and 44% more freight (2,400 lane metres) than their predecessors. The ferries are rail-enabled, allowing rail freight to be loaded directly onto the vessels, eliminating multiple cargo handling steps during inter-island transfers.
Critical for the national economy, these vessels will deliver high fuel efficiency, lower emissions and reduced underwater radiated noise (URN) that aligns with the forward-looking ferry projects. Reducing URN has been prioritised to help protect marine life in the Marlborough Sounds, acknowledged in the DNV Silent-E class notation.
Massimo Soprano, Ship Programme Director, Ferry Holdings, said: “These ferries represent a key investment in New Zealand’s transport infrastructure. Selecting ABB gives us confidence that we will deliver vessels with world-class power, propulsion and automation technology. These systems are designed for the demanding conditions of Cook Strait and built to minimise environmental impact over their entire lifecycle.”
Palemia Field, Global Segment Manager, Ferries, ABB Marine & Ports, added: “Growing up on the shores of Lyall Bay in Wellington, I watched the ferries push out into Cook Strait in all conditions, wind, swell and everything in between. That image has stayed with me. That personal connection makes it even more meaningful to now be part of delivering vessels that will transform that crossing. They are quieter, cleaner, more reliable, and built for the next 30 years of New Zealand’s growth.”
Combining efficiency and environmental responsibility, ship specifications include a fuel agnostic hybrid-electric power and propulsion plant. The 8.2 MWh battery energy storage system installed will support near-zero-emission harbour operations or a spinning reserve for 10 minutes. The power architecture allows for the battery energy storage system (BESS) to scale up to 12.3 MWh with further potential capacity to align with shore charging technologies when available.
ABB’s scope of supply includes four main alternators, as well as motors and drives for the three bow thrusters. Two Azipod propulsion units replace the predecessor ferries’ traditional propeller shafts, rudders and stern thrusters, delivering higher efficiency and a quieter, smoother ride. This is a meaningful improvement for passengers crossing the Cook Strait known for challenging and unpredictable conditions, strong tides and rough seas. The gearless, 360°-steerable Azipod units offer high manoeuvrability. The ships will be able to crab at 1 knot of speed in 40 knots of wind from any direction, far exceeding what the current fleet can achieve during port entry and departures in Wellington and Picton.
At the heart of the ships’ power architecture sits ABB’s PEMS power and energy management system, the intelligent ‘brain’ that continuously balances energy across the vessels’ generators, BESS, propulsion and auxiliary loads. Rather than managing these as separate systems, PEMS treats them as one integrated whole: automatically optimising fuel consumption, enabling harbour operations on battery power alone, and maintaining power continuity in the event of a fault. This integration and built-in resilience is intended to ensure operational reliability. PEMS has proven this capability across multiple ABB ferry projects worldwide.
The system will be complemented with the ABB Ability remote diagnostic system (RDS) for continuous 24/7 monitoring and access to ABB’s network of experts. The digital solution enables predictive maintenance, faster troubleshooting, and real-time operational insights, helping operators enhance vessel availability, reduce lifecycle costs, and ensure safe and efficient operations.
For ferries at the heart of New Zealand’s freight and passenger network, where an unplanned outage would have direct consequences for schedules, impacting rail connections and thousands of travellers, the ability to detect and resolve issues remotely before they lead to failures is a genuine operational differentiator.
Image: One of the new Cook Strait ferries (credit: Feery Holdings Limited))
