Hopefully, the solution is new boats that are a more sensible size, and don’t need the extensive infrastructure upgrades the new fleet would have required. One of the cancelled designs would have been a similar displacement to our current fleet of three.
I really hope the solution isn’t another clapped out beater from Europe.
If we’re going to the effort of infrastructure, what’s the reason for staying with Picton instead of somewhere near Blenheim? As I understand it, avoiding the restrictions of the Malborough Sounds could shave a significant amount of time off the trip.
If our government managed to blow out the projected cost of upgrading our existing infrastructure by more than the cost of the boats themselves, can you imagine what they’d do if they tried to build a whole new port somewhere?
Although I do like the idea of moving to somewhere like Port Underwood.