Seabus Kea
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MV Seabus Kea is a passenger ferry that operates the busy Devonport-Downtown Auckland express route for Fullers Ferries (Auckland's largest ferry operator). Seabus Kea operates a regular service departing from Downtown Auckland every half hour. The crossing of the Waitemata Harbour to Devonport takes just 10 minutes.
The Seabus Kea was purpose-built in 1988 in Whangarei. She is 28 metres long. Her capacity is approximately 400 passengers across two decks.[citation needed] Her distinctive design is similar to earlier Auckland ferries in the way that she is double-ended, so that time-consuming U-Turns at the starts or finishes of crossings are eliminated, making her very ideal for the service she was built for. While her top speed is just 15 knots, the clever double-ended design means she can maintain a half-hourly express service.
The Seabus Kea's career has had several minor accidents. Due to electronic steering problems, she has lost control while docking on two separate occasions, causing minor damage to other ferries.[citation needed]
