The 162.5 m by 25.4 m ro-ro, offering 2,307 lane metres of cargo capacity, will be taken over by the New Zealander KiwiRail, her up-to-date charterer.

The Swedish Rederi AB Gotland bought the vessel from Cobelfret Ferries in November 2021 and leased her out to KiwiRail for 12 months under a bareboat charter.

The deal included an option to buy the 1999-built Valentine, which KiwiRail now decided to exercise.

The ro-ro will be 'handed over' in January 2023 for €5.2m.

Valentine is part of the Interislander fleet, connecting New Zealand's North and South Islands.

Photo: kenjonbro/flickr