Totally Tourism Mitre Peak Cruises vessel Mitre Peak II sailed back to Milford Sound from Otago Harbour yesterday evening after being out of action for about eight weeks while a new engine was installed.
Skipper Graham Sutherland said the boat was commissioned in 2005 and had serviced about 50,000 passengers every year.
It had been used almost every day and the secret to its longevity was treating it with lots of love and care, he said.
The boat would be returning to duty this Saturday for the company’s 1.30pm cruise, Mr Sutherland said.
The company had two vessels running and had missed the Mitre Peak II during the first week of the school holidays, he said.
"I missed out on the first week, but we’ll have it back on for the second week."
The vessel had a passenger capacity of 75 people and was 20m long.
It received its repairs at DG Engineering in Sawyers Bay.
