Kea (ferry) explained

M.V. Kea (sometimes called the Seabus Kea) was a commercial passenger ferry that operated the busy New Zealand Devonport-Downtown Auckland express route for Fullers Ferries (Auckland's largest ferry operator). The Kea operated a regular service departing from Downtown Auckland every half-hour.^[1]

The Kea entered service in 1988 as the 14th ferry of the company.^[2]

The bridge area formed a third deck. Her distinctive design is similar to earlier Auckland ferries, such as the Kestrel,^[3] in that she is longitudinally symmetrical, effectively meaning that she can be driven both ways, so that no U-Turns at the starts or finishes of crossings have to be made. This enabled the Kea to maintain a half-hourly express service between Downtown Auckland and Devonport.

In 2007, she was removed from the water and given a substantial overhaul in a shipyard in the Western Reclamation, including major work on both engines.^[4]

In 2006, the Kea was involved in a minor collision at the Auckland Ferry Terminal with the moored Starflyte, due to steering failure.

In February 2015, the Kea was again involved in a collision, this time at the Devonport Ferry Terminal. No other vessel was involved.^[5]

In 2020, the Kea was withdrawn from service.^[6] In 2023, she was towed to Whangārei and scrapped.^[7]

Notes and References

1. http://www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/devonport2 Destination History - Devonport
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20050301075545/fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/74 Company History - Growth in services
3. News: Orsman . Bernard . Historic ferry vessel will be sunk unless a new berth is found at Auckland's Wynyard Quarter . 2 September 2023 . NZ Herald . 16 Oct 2018.
4. Maintenance programme nears completion - The Waiheke Week, 26 July 2007 Page 9
5. Web site: Ferry slams into Devonport Wharf. Stuff.co.nz. 17 February 2015.
6. News: Hurley . Sam . Troubled waters: Auckland ferry's 7 collisions and $155k fine . 2 September 2023 . NZ Herald.
7. Web site: Fuller’s old Tamaki Devonport ferry Kea leaves Auckland one last time under tow to Whangarei . facebook.com.