GMV Aramoana | New Zealand Railways
"In his quiet voice Captain Robertson gave his helm orders: "Starboard five…steady…watch her…’midships".
There was no other talk. Occasionally he would walk across to either wing of the bridge. At one point, having
observed small pleasure craft way ahead of the ship, my Godfather beckoned to me and indicated a large red
button on a control panel under the open bridge windows. "Push that", he said. I did so and the Aramoana’s siren
high on her funnel roared out, warning the pleasure craft of our approach. "Hold it down" Captain Robertson told
me, and the sound echoed and boomed around the sunlit, forested hills on either side of us."
The Aramoana was New Zealands first rail ferry, and operated on the Wellington-Picton route, replacing the old 1925 built Tamahine on the run.
Aramoana was involved in the rescue of passengers during the sinking of the TEV Wahine, being the largest ship to aid Wahine, with her 2 forward lifeboats being lowered to help those who had been swept into the sea. Afterwards Aramoana sailed at a reduced capacity for a time, as these 2 lifeboats were not raised back onto the ship.
Aramoana had a major refit in 1977, and had a new funnel fitted, along with an enclosed promenade and multiple interior changes
Aramoana sailed for New Zealand Railways for the final time in mid 1983, and was sold to the Najid maritime Agency of Jeddah in November 1984, along with her runningmate Aranui for use in the pilgrim trade and for services in the Red sea, and was renamed Najd II. She was then chartered, and ended up being used for people-smuggling operations to move illegal immigrants from China into the United States. Finally she was renamed to Niaxco III for her final voyage to an indian shipbreaking yard in 1994.
To use the bow thrusters, push the starter button behind and to the left of the helm once you have selected the speed on the bow thruster telegraphs
