This September locals and visitors to the area will have a new ferry to cross the Whitianga Harbour in.

Posting to Facebook earlier this week Whitianga Ferry owner and operator Fred Acke says they are currently building a new vessel which will be similar to the ‘Mercury Star'.

The Whitianga Ferry owner and operator Fred Acke says the new vessel will be much like the ‘Mercury Star' (pictured). Photo: File.

'She is a 12 metre, 63 seat alloy mono hull,” posts Fred. 'Much like the ‘Mercury Star' but a bit longer and with wheel chair access, flush decks, etc.”

This new vessel will be ready for service sometime in September, but until then Fred and the crew are working on a new name for the ferry.

Already suggestions of names for the new ferry have flooded in from Whitianga locals via Facebook.

A couple of SunLive's favourites include: ‘Whiti Waka', ‘The Lug Boat', ‘The Stella Star', ‘Mercury Aroha', ‘Waka Poti', ‘Mercury Express' and the ‘Whitianga Princess'.

For more than 100 years the ferry service has operated in Whitianga and currently operates two vessels: the smaller of the two the ‘Stella B' and the larger ‘Mercury Star'.

The new vessel is likely to replace the ‘Stella B, which was named by a previous owner in honour of his wife. It and was built to replace a ferry washed away off its mooring and never seen again.

For more information visit Whitianga Ferry's website at: www.whitiangaferry.co.nz