TEV Rangatira (1971)

TEV Rangatira (1971) was a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry that operated in New Zealand from 1972 until 1976. Built in Scotland by the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, the vessel was initially intended for service between the United Kingdom and Spain under the name Monte Toledo. However, before completion, the ship was acquired by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand and renamed Rangatira, becoming the second ship to bear that name for the company.

The Rangatira was designed for passenger and vehicle transport across the Cook Strait, linking Wellington on the North Island with Picton on the South Island. The ship's introduction aimed to improve the efficiency and capacity of the Cook Strait ferry service, which was experiencing increasing demand. The vessel featured drive-through vehicle decks, allowing for faster loading and unloading compared to previous conventional ferries. Passenger amenities included restaurants, bars, lounges, and cabins.

Despite its advanced design for the time, the Rangatira proved to be commercially unsuccessful. A combination of factors contributed to its failure, including its relatively high operating costs, limited cargo capacity compared to dedicated freight vessels, and industrial relations issues. Moreover, the ship's design, while innovative, was not perfectly suited to the specific conditions of the Cook Strait, which can experience rough seas.

The Rangatira was withdrawn from service in 1976 and subsequently sold. It was refitted and renamed Mediterranean Island, operating in the Mediterranean for several years. The vessel was eventually scrapped in 2005. The Rangatira is remembered as a technically advanced but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to modernize the Cook Strait ferry service. Its brief career highlights the challenges of operating specialized RoRo passenger ferries in the demanding Cook Strait environment.