The vessel, bought second-hand after it was used by Whale Watch Kaikoura, can take more than 50 people and will allow the company to pick up tourists from cruise ships at Port Chalmers.
To be repainted and named Albatross Express, the vessel arrived after a journey from Hokianga, and will be used as part of a collaborative tourism enterprise that the vessel's owner, Perry Reid, said he would be putting together in conjunction with other operators.
Yesterday it was moored at Portobello.
Mr Reid said the catamaran had handled rough seas well on the trip south.
It had two 530hp engines that gave it a 28-knot top speed.
It weighed 14.6 tonnes dry, and was soon to head to Careys Bay to be taken out of the water for repair and repainting.
Mr Reid has said he expects it to be ready to take tourists on the Otago Harbour in November.
