As of Tuesday afternoon, March 31, 2026, the Cook Strait remains under significant pressure due to a combination of mechanical failures, a maritime emergency, and deteriorating weather.

Bluebridge

The Connemara remains out of action. It has now been detained by Maritime NZ following a safety inspection in Wellington.

• Cancellations: All scheduled crossings for the Connemara are currently cancelled, including the 2:00 PM Picton to Wellington sailing today.

• Outlook: Bluebridge hopes to resume services late this evening (Tuesday), but this is strictly dependent on the vessel being cleared by authorities.

• Advice: If you were booked on the Connemara, check your email for a cancellation notice. Re-booking options are currently extremely limited.

   

Interislander

A major search and rescue operation earlier today has caused flow-on delays across the network.

• Overboard Incident: A person went overboard from the Kaiārahi around 2:20 AM this morning. The vessel remained on-site to assist in the search for several hours.

• Fleet Status: While the Kaiārahi has since returned to service, the schedule is lagging. Most morning sailings were delayed, and some may be consolidated to manage the backlog.

• Aratere & Kaitaki: These vessels are currently operating but are under high demand as they absorb passengers and freight from the cancelled Bluebridge sailings.

Current Marine Forecast

Conditions are becoming more challenging this afternoon:

• Wind: A Gale Warning is in place for the Cook Rock area. A southerly change has brought winds of 30 knots.

• Sea State: The sea is expected to be rough for a time this afternoon with a moderate southerly swell developing.

• Visibility: Poor visibility is expected during passing showers.

Summary Table