It’s been a rough time for the ferries getting between the islands this year.

Lately it’s been the turn of Bluebridge to have trouble on the water and the safety and reliability of the Cook Strait ferry services is again being questioned.

In September, the Bluebridge ferry Connemara lost power after leaving Wellington Harbour and had to be towed back to port. It was the latest in a string of mishaps involving the ferries, the previous one being when Interislander ferry Aratere ran aground in the Marlborough Sounds in June.

The prompt response with tug assistance and the professionalism of the Bluebridge crew meant no one was at risk, as I understand ...