Bluebridge

Since we first set sail across the Strait in 2002, weve worked hard to improve our service with every sailing to give you a truly unique onboard experience. Check out our latest sailing timetable or book now to experience Bluebridge for yourself. Jim Barker is the kind of man who sees opportunities not problems. As the founder of Strait Shipping Ji... m introduced a new shipping service into Cook Strait in 1992. He didn't do it because he was tempted by a life at sea, but because he needed a competitive, reliable way to shift livestock between the North and South Islands. With escalating prices and frequent disruptions, he saw no way around it he had to get his own ship. Along with three other shareholders, Jim located the MV Straitsman in Tasmania a small walk-on walk-off ro-ro with pens able to carry 400 cattle. The ship made its inaugural sailing in May 1992. Our newest ship is renamed after this iconic first boat. demands of transport companies, introducing healthy competition and exciting changes to the Cook Strait route. Our next ship, the Suilven from Scotland, signalled the start of Freightlines (part of our group link) and captured the needs of the freight market. Next came the Kent from Ireland, capable of carrying 30 trucks compared to 13 on the Suilven. This increase in capacity opened up a better quality service for our freight customers and the ability to offer more sailings with up to four a day. Our decision to launch a passenger service that gave travellers a true Kiwi experience when crossing Cook Strait and again introduce competition to what was a monopoly market was another major leap forward. So in early 2002, after a long search to find the Santa Regina, Bluebridge was born. In order to keep up with the demand for another passenger service on Cook Strait we introduced the Monte Stello in 2006 which was upgraded with the introduction of the Straitsman in 2010. MV Straitsman was Strait Shipping's first vessel, with an overall length of 62.52 metres and a gross tonnage of 726 tonnes. Used to ...Read More