Kea (ferry)

M.V. Kea (sometimes called the Seabus Kea) was a commercial passenger ferry that operated the busy New Zealand Devonport-Downtown Auckland express route for Fullers Ferries (Auckland's largest ferry operator). The Kea operated a regular service departing from Downtown Auckland every half-hour.^[3]

The Kea entered service in 1988 as the 14th ferry of the company.^[4]

The bridge area formed a third deck. Her distinctive design is similar to earlier Auckland ferries, such as the Kestrel,^[5] in that she is longitudinally symmetrical, effectively meaning that she can be driven both ways, so that no U-Turns at the starts or finishes of crossings have to be made. This enabled the Kea to maintain a half-hourly express service between Downtown Auckland and Devonport.

In 2007, she was removed from the water and given a substantial overhaul in a shipyard in the Western Reclamation, including major work on both engines.^[6]

In 2006, the Kea was involved in a minor collision at the Auckland Ferry Terminal with the moored Starflyte, due to steering failure.^[1]

In February 2015, the Kea was again involved in a collision, this time at the Devonport Ferry Terminal. No other vessel was involved.^[7]

In 2020, the Kea was withdrawn from service.^[8] In 2023, she was towed to Whangārei and scrapped.^[9]