Fullers Group

Fullers Group Limited, trading as Fullers360, is a ferry and tourism company in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] It operates in the Hauraki Gulf and Waitematā Harbour. Fullers Group is the latest in a long line of almost continuous harbour and gulf ferry operations based in Auckland since the 1870s.

Not to be confused with Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands.

Fullers Group
TypePrivate
IndustryFerry & tourism company
FounderGeorge Hudson
Headquarters
Auckland
,
New Zealand
Area served
Auckland
Key people
Mike Horne, CEO
ServicesAuckland Commuter and Tourist Ferry Services
OwnerInMotion Group
Websitewww.fullers.co.nz

History

George Hudson, and his son, Douglas, conceived an idea for an improved ferry operator to replace the neglected Auckland ferry services during a sailing trip on Waitematā Harbour in 1981. By the end of that year, the Hudson family acquired North Shore Ferries (from Leo Dromgoole), another ferry company in Auckland and renaming it the Devonport Steam Ferry Group (which Gulf Ferries Ltd was a part of) (To celebrate the name of the company founded by Ewen W.Allison nearly 100 years before). However, the difficulties and hardships of rejuvenating a failing fleet became apparent almost immediately, as within six weeks of the takeover, every vessel was out of service, except for the Glen Rosa, a small Launch (boat).

The transition to a modern operation began in 1987 with the arrival of the Quickcat, Gulf Ferries' first catamaran, creating a faster, more efficient ferry service to Waiheke Island and other destinations. This was continued with the Kea (Built by WECO in Whangārei) being introduced in 1988 to operate the Auckland City to Devonport service. For the tourism services, two new catamaran ferries from World Heritage Cruises, Adventurer and Wanderer, were purchased in 2006 and 2007 for NZ$3 million and NZ$2 million respectively. These vessels will also assist on the company's main ferry routes during peak hours.[1]

In 1988, South Pacific Travel Holdings Ltd became shareholders before the publicly listed Fullers Corporation Ltd went into receivership. Recognizing the value of the "Fullers" brand, the company amalgamated its operations and changed its name to Fullers Group Limited. Stagecoach New Zealand became the major shareholder of Fullers Group Limited but kept George Hudson as chairman until 2007 where his son, Douglas Hudson became the CEO until 2017 when Mike Horne took over the position. In 2009, Brian Souter acquired the company as well as another ferry company, 360 Discovery Limited.[2] Both are now part of the InMotion Group.

In 2018 Fullers and 360 Discovery decided to merge brands to become a more cohesive and consumer-friendly ferry operator creating Fullers360.

Services

Fullers Group runs ferries from the Auckland Ferry Terminal in Quay Street, Downtown Auckland under the Fullers360 branding. Fullers360 operates to:

Auckland suburbs of:

Hauraki Gulf Island destinations of:

Fullers previously operated services to:

Fullers Group owns and operates the Waiheke Bus Company providing public transportation to Waiheke Island.

Fullers also operates tourism packages and tours alongside ferry services at its island destinations.

Vessels
Main article: List of Auckland ferries
Key: Out of service Sold or Scrapped
Name Image Shipyard Launched Capacity Length Class/type Notes
Future hybrid vessel New Zealand Q-West, Whanganui[6] 2025
planned[7]		 300
28 bikes[7]		 32m[8] IC19214[8]
Future electric vessel New Zealand Seachange, Auckland[9] 2024
planned[10]		 10
0 bikes[9]		 8m[9] F8[9]
Kororā New Zealand Q-West, Whanganui[11] 2017[11]
6 years ago		 420[12]
20 bikes		 34.9m[13] IC15128[14]
Tōrea New Zealand Q-West, Whanganui[15] 2017[15]
6 years ago		 420[16]
20 bikes		 34.9m[13] IC15128[14]
Te Maki New Zealand Challenge Marine, Nelson[17] 2017
6 years ago		 174[18]
10 bikes		 23.9m[13] IC15062[19]
Discovery VII (D7) Australia Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[20] 2015[21]
8 years ago		 134[18][22]
6 bikes		 19m[13] IC14202[21]
Discovery VI (D6) Australia Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[23] 2015[23]
8 years ago		 249[13]
6 bikes		 24.96m[13] ICO13078[24]
Te Kōtuku New Zealand Q-West, Whanganui[25] 2014[25]
9 years ago		 329[18][26]
20 bikes		 34m[13]
Ika Kākahi Australia Aluminium Boats, Brisbane[27] 2011[28]
12 years ago		 400[28]
20 bikes		 37m[13] Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Dancer before joining Fullers in 2019[28]
Kekeno Australia Aluminium Boats, Brisbane[29] 2011[28]
12 years ago		 400[28]
20 bikes		 37m[13] Built as a crew-transfer vessel for Gladstone LNG, known as Capricornian Surfer before joining Fullers in 2017[28]
Takahē Australia Aluminium Marine, Brisbane[30] 2011[31]
12 years ago		 174[31]
10 bikes		 23.9m[13]
Adventurer Australia RDM, Tasmania[32] 1996
27 years ago		 246[31]
12 bikes		 29m[13]
Discovery III (D3) New Zealand Robertson Boats, Warkworth[33] 1996[31]
27 years ago		 150[18]
6 bikes		 18m[13]
Tiger Cat New Zealand 1996[31]
27 years ago		 140[18]
15 bikes		 18m[13]
Harbour Cat New Zealand 1995[34]
28 years ago		 108[18]
15 bikes		 20m[13]
Discovery II (D2) New Zealand Robertson Boats, Warkworth[33] 1995[35]
28 years ago		 78[18]
4 bikes		 15m[13]
Osprey New Zealand homebuilt in Whangārei[36] 1994[37]
29 years ago		 152[18]
10 bikes		 19.5m[13]
Discovery I (D1) New Zealand Robertson Boats, Warkworth[33] 1993[38]
30 years ago		 151[18] 20m[13]
Superflyte Australia Wavemaster, Perth 1996[31]
27 years ago		 650[31]
30 bikes		 41m[13] Withdrawn from service in 2019, scrapped in 2023[39]
Seaflyte Australia Wavemaster, Perth[40] 1994[41]
29 years ago		 208[31]
20 bikes		 21.48m[13] Renamed Milford Explorer, now operates in Milford Sound[42]
Jet Raider Australia Wavemaster, Perth[43] 1990
33 years ago		 400[44] 37m[13] Sold to Tonga in 2017 and renamed to MV Māui[5]
Kea New Zealand WECO, Whangārei 1988[45]
35 years ago		 450[13]
30 bikes		 27.06m[13] Withdrawn from service in 2020[46], scrapped in 2023[47]
Quickcat Australia SBF Engineering, Perth[48] 1986
37 years ago		 650[49]
30 bikes		 33.38m[13] Parked at Silo Marina[50] still in service but is only a backup vessel for Fullers360

Awards, partnership and sponsors

In 2009, Fullers Ferries received a Cycle Friendly Award from Cycling Advocates' Network for the best cycle-friendly commitment by a business in New Zealand.[51]

Fullers is also the travel partner for The Partners Life DUAL, a multi event competition helping support the Motutapu and Rangitoto islands conservation efforts.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation also receive free travel to help promote the Pest Free Islands Initiative along with supporting Kiwi Releases on the Rotoroa Island.

See also

References
  1. Dearnaley, Mathew (30 October 2007). "$2m cat for Birkenhead commuters". The New Zealand Herald. p. A8. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. "Our Story: A Little About Us". Fullers + 360 Discovery Cruises. Fullers Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. Williams, Caroline (15 September 2023). "Cancelled Auckland ferry services saved, new operator on board". Stuff. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  4. Owen, Lisa. "Fullers cans Coromandel ferry, citing weather & staffing issues". Checkpoint. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  5. "'Vomit Comet' sold to Tonga". Waiheke Gulf News. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. "Fullers unveils electric ferry for Devonport run, wider electricification plans". www.nzherald.co.nz. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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  21. "19m Catamaran Tour Vessel". Archived from the original on 8 September 2023.
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  29. "Kekeno - web.archive.org". Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  30. "FantaSea Sunrise". aluminiummarine.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  31. "Frankship". frankship.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  32. "Adventurer - discover.stqry.app". discover.stqry.app. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  33. "Ferry Boats". Robertson Boats. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  34. "Harbour Cat - nzmaritimeindex.org.nz". nzmaritimeindex.org.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  35. "Logan Clarke Transport Photography". Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  36. "17.08.2023 - Transport and Infrastructure Committee - Items 5 - 7". Auckland Council.
  37. "Serious Harm Injury/Mooring Rope Failure - Osprey" (PDF). Maritime New Zealand. Retrieved 11 August 2006.
  38. "Discovery I (D1) - seapixonline.com". seapixonline.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  39. "Superyachts - Port Nikau". portnikau.co.nz. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  40. "Seaflyte - shipspotting.com". shipspotting.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  41. "Seaflyte - gisis.imo.org". gisis.imo.org. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  42. "Ship MILFORD EXPLORER". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  43. "Jet Raider (MV Māui) - waihekegulfnews.co.nz". waihekegulfnews.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  44. "Jet Raider (MV Māui) - shipspotting.com". shipspotting.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  45. "Kea - vesseltracking.net". vesseltracking.net. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  46. Hurley, Sam. "Troubled waters: Auckland ferry's 7 collisions and $155k fine". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  47. "Fuller's old Tamaki Devonport ferry Kea leaves Auckland one last time under tow to Whangarei". facebook.com.
  48. "Quickcat - taic.org.nz" (PDF). taic.org.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  49. "Quickcat - nzherald.co.nz". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  50. "Silo Marina". snapithd.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  51. "Fullers Wins NZTA Cycle-Friendly Award" (Press release). Scoop news. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
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