Interislander ferry runs aground near Picton
The Aratere Interislander ferry has run aground near Picton.
Pictures posted on social media show the ferry against a rocky cliff face in Pine Bay.
In a statement, Interislander General Manager Duncan Roy said it happened at 9:45pm "following a steering failure."
"It was a freight only sailing with eight commercial vehicle drivers and 39 crew on board. There are no injuries and the vessel is watertight.
"The Picton Harbour Master is on board and we are working with him to move the vessel back to Picton," said Roy.
In a tweet on Friday night, Transport minister Simeon Brown said KiwiRail and Maritime NZ are "actively dealing with the situation."
"We have been advised that there is no indication of injuries, danger to life or danger of oil pollution to the marine environment," said Brown.
Images shared by Hutt City Councillor Brady Dyer appeared to show lifejackets being handed out to people on board.
"Hope everyone on board is ok!," he wrote.
Picton resident Stewart Ireland watched it unfold from the viewing platform in Picton.
"Never seen anything like it in my lifetime," he told Newshub.
Ireland said he saw Picton's two tugboats and Coastguard at the scene.
