GMV Aranui

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox ship |display_title=GMV ''Aranui'' |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Aranui roll-on roll-off ferry.jpg |image_caption=''Aranui'' in [[Queen Charlotte Sound (New Zealand)|Queen Charlotte Sound]] in 1968 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |name=''Aranui'' |namesake= |flag={{flagicon|NZL|size=72px}} |owner=[[New Zealand Railways Department]] |operator= |registry= |route=[[Wellington]] to [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] |ordered= |builder=[[Vickers Limited|Vickers]], [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|High Walker]] |original_cost=[[New Zealand dollar|$NZ]] 4 million |yard_number=183 |way_number= |laid_down= |launched=26 June 1965 |completed=1965 |christened= |acquired= |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |identification={{IMO Number|6517067}}<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1494838| title=Aranui - IMO 6517067| publisher=Shipspotting| accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref> |fate=Scrapped at [[Chittagong]] 1994 |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |tonnage={{GT|3281}}; later 4,160 |displacement= |length={{convert|112.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|18.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} |height= |draught= |draft={{convert|4.78|m}} |depth= |decks= |deck_clearance= |ramps= |power=6 × [[English Electric]] 16-cylinder 4-stroke turbocharged 16 CSVM diesel 10" x 21" design 900rpm, service 700rpm |propulsion=Electric drive to 2 shafts |speed={{convert|19|kn|mph|0}} |capacity=*800 passengers *30 [[railroad car]]s *70 cars |crew=90 |notes= }} }} '''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 Island|North]] and [[South Island|South]] Islands of New Zealand.<ref>New Zealand's Rail Ferry ''[[Australian Transport]]'' January 1965 page 35</ref> She was built by [[Vickers Limited|Vickers]] in England.<ref>New Zealand ''[[Network (periodical)|Network]]'' April 1965 page 2</ref><ref name=nzm>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/aranui.htm| title=NZ Rail Ferry Aranui| publisher=NZ National Maritime Museum| accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref> In February 1965, she sailed via the [[Panama Canal]], arriving in [[Wellington]] on 28 May<ref name=nzm/> and entered service with her sister {{ship|GMV|Aramoana}} on 9 June.<ref>Aranui makes last crossing ''[[Rails (magazine)|Rails]]'' August 1984 page 18</ref> 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.<ref>Refit for Aranui at Dundein ''Network'' June 1978 page 28</ref><ref>Aranui back in service following $3 million all NZ refit ''Rails'' January 1979 pages 7-9</ref><ref name=fof>{{cite web |url= http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/aranui_1965.htm |title=M/S Aranui |publisher=Fakta om fartyg |accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/railferries.htm| title=New Zealand's Cook Strait Rail Ferries| publisher=NZ National Maritime Museum| accessdate=26 February 2012| archive-date=27 July 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727192412/http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/railferries.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Stott|first1=Bob|title=The Cook Strait Ferry Story|date=1981|publisher=Southern Press|isbn=0908616015|page=44}}</ref>

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]].<ref name=nzm/><ref>Pioneer ferries sold overseas ''Rails'' January 1985 page 144</ref> Renamed ''Aranui A'' and then ''Nui'', she commenced service carrying Muslim pilgrims on the [[Red Sea]].<ref name=nzm/>

In 1986, the ship was renamed ''Najd III''. Five years later, following an engine failure, she was laid up at Singapore.<ref name=fof/> 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.<ref name=nzm/>

==Layout== ''Aranui'' was slightly larger than ''Aramoana''. She had a higher bridge and funnel than her older sister ship.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/aranui-cook-strait-ferry |title=Aranui Cook Strait ferry |publisher=New Zealand History Online |access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> 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, New Zealand|Picton]], later known as the ''[[Interislander]]''.

==Footnotes== {{reflist}}

[[Category:1965 ships]] [[Category:Cook Strait ferries]] [[Category:Train ferries]] [[Category:Ships built by Vickers-Armstrongs on the River Tyne]]