The Aratere ferry, recently renamed Vega and sold to a buyer in India, has raised concerns regarding the welfare of its crew, who have been anchored in Tasman Bay, New Zealand, for over 50 days, awaiting permission to travel to a shipyard for dismantling. The Maritime Union of New Zealand has expressed alarm for the seafarers on board, with national secretary Carl Findlay noting that reports indicated the crew members had been on the vessel for nearly two months.
Maritime New Zealand (Maritime NZ) has stated that it is unclear how many crew members are aboard the Vega or their nationalities, but emphasized its commitment to monitoring their conditions in compliance with international maritime regulations. The Vega is registered to Jahaj Solutions, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, and crew agreements reveal that pay for an able seaman is as low as $206 USD monthly—far below the International Labour Organization (ILO) minimum wage of $690 USD, effective from January 2026. Even with overtime and allowances, total compensation nears $550 USD, failing to meet established labor standards.
While the vessel’s agents and captain report the crew is in good health and sufficiently provisioned, the union calls for an independent welfare check to validate these claims and ensure crew members have the option to leave if desired. As the Port State Control authority, Maritime NZ can conduct welfare inspections but has indicated no immediate actions are planned for the Vega. They encourage public reporting of any welfare concerns regarding the crew.
The delay in the Vega’s departure from New Zealand is attributed to the need for import consent from Indian authorities. KiwiRail had announced the sale last October, indicating that the new owner would handle the transport to the recycling facility, complying with the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) review. However, without the necessary consent from India, the ship cannot leave New Zealand. The EPA confirmed that the export application has been submitted but cannot be finalized until the Indian Competent Authority grants import approval; this process can be lengthy, and ongoing follow-ups with Indian authorities are being conducted.
Overall, with the former Aratere ferry now waiting in New Zealand waters, the focus remains on the well-being of its crew and the bureaucratic delays preventing its journey to India for dismantling.
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