Connemara Mechanical Issues Cause Overcapacity on Bluebridge Ferries’ Livia Service

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries faced a challenging situation on January 11th, 2026, when an overbooking incident required up to 36 passengers to disembark from the ferry Livia just before its departure from Wellington to Picton. This issue stemmed from ongoing mechanical problems on another vessel in their fleet, Connemara.

As Bluebridge worked to accommodate passengers displaced from cancelled Connemara sailings, several standby passengers were mistakenly permitted onto the Livia’s service. Upon realizing the overcapacity situation, the company requested those affected to return to shore. Bluebridge took measures to assist these passengers by arranging rebookings and compensation for any costs incurred during the disruption.

A persistent mechanical failure on Connemara, which had already kept it out of service for repairs since Thursday, contributed to the capacity challenges. The vessel’s winch, associated with its stern door, had malfunctioned, leading to a nearly 15-hour delay for around 200 passengers on board. To alleviate some of the situation, Livia had added extra sailings over the weekend to help address the passenger shortfall.

Bluebridge reported that repairs on Connemara’s stern door were proceeding as planned, with the vessel expected to resume regular operations by 8:30 p.m. on Monday.

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