The 10.00am sailing of the Interislander ferry from Picton to Wellington on Friday 16 May set the scene for a combined police Special Tactics Group (STG) and RNZAF Number 3 Squadron counter-terrorism training exercise.

The routine training, involving fast rope rappelling, saw members of the police STG rappel from an RNZAF Iroquois onto the deck of the Aratere Interislander ferry as it made its way across Cook Strait.

Iroquois captain Squadron Leader Nigel Cooper of RNZAF Number 3 Squadron said the exercise was a great success.

“We achieved our aim which was getting the team on board the ship.”

Sqn Ldr Cooper said the combined exercise provided the Iroquois crew with the opportunity to practice fast rope rappelling during a realistic training situation.

Interislander passengers and crew had been well briefed by the Police and RNZAF prior to the training exercise.