The 12.2m 19 passenger Vivienne J, owned and operated by John and Viv McLachlan, has been used for charters and fishing around Otago, Stewart Island and Fiordland for the past decade, and helped Monarch during the height of the cruise ship season during the past five years.
The 16.5m Monarch carries up to 61 passengers.
Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours is owned by former NHNZ director producer Neil Harraway and Dunedin lawyer Anita Chan, who said Vivienne J had often assisted in the past when cruise ship tourists fully booked Monarch.
Mr Harraway said Vivienne J would complement Monarch's scenic and wildlife cruises, but also be used for fishing charters, ferrying people to Quarantine Island and running other private charters.
''We'll keep using it to supplement the Monarch on busy days and as a backup boat, but we also have plans for some special cruise offerings.
''Being smaller, it is more suited for small groups, and it can also go into shallower areas of Otago harbour,'' he said in a statement.
Former owner Mr McLachlan said he and his wife, Viv, had enjoyed 10 years of chartering. Mr Harraway said, ''John has been fantastic in helping us out, he's flexible, obliging, and a great veteran seaman for visitors to talk to. We look forward to him keeping his skipper's hand in with us in future.''
Earlier this month, Monarch Wildlife Cruises launched a new all day nature photo safari tour option, for up to three people, to explore Dunedin's peninsula and coastline, by 4WD and boat.
