The story of Black Cat Cruises officially started in 1985, but the founding family traces its roots on Banks Peninsula back to the 1920s with a close connection to the Diamond Harbour ferry. Proudly family-owned to this day, Black Cat Cruises has maintained its deep-rooted legacy.
From humble beginnings carrying a few hundred people per year operating a small tourism business of small canoes and dinghies, founders Ron and Durelle Bingham recognised the untapped potential of Akaroa and its wildlife as a tourist destination.
This first major step involved the purchase of the Canterbury Cat, which opened the door for visitors to experience the scenery and wildlife of Akaroa Harbour, including the Hector’s dolphins, fur seals and, dare we say it, an old, woolly sheep happily living in its own enclave below the cliffs. The Binghams had two goals, which the company still follows closely. One was a 365 days-a-year commitment to getting out on the water. Such dedication means it takes a mighty southerly wind to stop their skippers from operating.
The other is to raise the profile of New Zealand’s endangered wildlife, including the dolphins, seals and little blue penguins. Over the years, Black Cat has successfully navigated various challenging obstacles, from earthquakes to a global pandemic. These experiences have only strengthened their resilience and dedication, which has helped them to grow into one of the top tourist cruising operations in New Zealand.
The other thing that stands true for Black Cat is the importance of its people. From day one, Ron’s legacy has maintained the vision to deliver an experience of the highest quality, characterised by excellence in education, entertainment and safety. Today, this success rests with the passionate and dedicated team which is now in command.
Legend says Diamond Harbour earned its name when an early settler saw sunlight sparkling on the water, and it reminded him of countless shimmering diamonds. The harbour remains one of the sunniest and most untouched destinations on Banks Peninsula, making it perfect for day trips.
The Diamond Harbour Ferry, operating since 1888, is the recommended mode of transport, bridging Diamond Harbour and the port town of Lyttelton with a short ferry ride. The ferry jetty is only a brief, five-minute stroll from the heart of the town.
With departures every 30 minutes at peak times, the journey is both convenient and scenic. Black Cat’s ferry, the Black Diamond, introduced in May 2001, has served as the modern Diamond Harbour ferry. She replaced the historic Onawe, cutting travel time to roughly ten minutes and offering more frequent trips. Paired with buses from Lyttelton to Christchurch, it provides Diamond Harbour residents with an easy commute to the city.
The old adage states – for any successful ferry service, provide a regular, fast and efficient service and the people will come. The local population has surged over the last decade as the next generation of younger families move into the local community. Increased tourism was a major factor, with the growing awareness of Diamond Harbour as an excellent tourist destination.
This increased commuter demand, along with a 15 percent increase in passenger trips from 135,000 in the 2022-2023 financial year to just over 155,000 in 2023-2024, placed pressure on the service for additional capacity. The 16m Black Pearl was launched in September, 2024.
This new vessel can carry up to 95 customers, double the capacity of the other Diamond Harbour ferry, Black Diamond, which will now be used as the reserve ferry. Black Cat’s chief executive, Paul Milligan, said the new vessel had taken a lot of planning and careful design. “A real highlight of having this new ferry is her capacity. She will allow for greater accessibility for customers, including those with prams or bikes.”
The ferry’s journey to the water wasn’t all smooth sailing. “We are relieved to have her in service after the initial build was delayed due to Covid-19 and the normal teething issues one might expect with a new boat,” said Paul.
Environment Canterbury councillor Vicky Southworth said she was excited to have the new ferry in operation. “It’s amazing to see after years of hard work and planning. I know the community will appreciate having this extra, bigger vessel available.”
The 16m catamaran with her distinctive axe bows was designed by Teknicraft and built locally by Icon Custom Boats in Rangiora. The design brief was for a soft-riding, comfortable, fast commuter ferry for the enclosed waters between Lyttelton and the wharf at Diamond Harbour. She is constructed of 5083 marine-grade aluminium and is surveyed to carry up to 95 passengers within inshore limits.
The Black Pearl is powered by two Yanmar 6CXBM-GT engines, situated towards the rear below the passenger accommodation area. These engines are rated at 294kW @ 2500rpm. They are coupled to Yanmar YX-80 gearboxes driving a conventional drive to Veem five-bladed high-speed propellers and spade rudders. Steering is via HyDrive power-assisted steering rams. The twin Yanmar marine engines power the 17m vessel along at a comfortable, fully laden service speed of 18 knots.
Inside the spacious cabin, there are 52 forward-facing seats while at the rear of the cabin, four additional flip-down seats provide extra flexibility. Like most modern ferries, there is space for cyclists to bring their bikes on board. There are eight bicycle stands on the aft deck with four on each side, along with seven exterior seats. When all the bike racks are occupied, the aft deck can accommodate up to 16 passengers, or 28 if no bicycles are present.
In summary, this Teknicraft-designed passenger ferry has been well constructed by the builders, Icon Custom Boats. The attention to detail in the construction and welding is superb. The interior layout and seating is comfortable for the short, eight minute commute across the harbour.
Once underway, the Black Pearl demonstrated her pedigree, delivering a smooth and comfortable ride. Noise levels on the aft deck were low enough to allow for comfortable conversation.
Since going into operation, Milligan comments that the skippers have truly fallen in love with the new vessel and have embraced their new environment with enthusiasm. “Even though the Black Pearl is larger than the Black Diamond, the team has found her incredibly easy to manoeuvre. They absolutely love how quiet she is and are thrilled with the excellent visibility from the helm,” he says.
The vessel has not only met but also exceeded expectations, impressing everyone with her remarkable efficiency through the water and outstanding fuel economy. There’s no doubt that the Black Pearl will provide Diamond Harbour residents and day-trippers with a reliable, fast, and efficient service for many years to come.
This article was first published in Professional Skipper NZ magazine.
