Doug Wright

On the waterfront: Record cruise ship season ends today

An interesting week at Port Chalmers with a visit from Stellar Eagle, the largest ship to load logs, and a record cruise ship season ending with visits from Pacific Pearl yesterday, and consort Pacific Dawn today.

Rare reefer visit for holds of apples

In the past we used to see quite a lot of them, fully refrigerated vessels (reefers). They called here to load for overseas markets, fish, meat and apples when the export apple season was in full swing. These cargoes now go by container ships.

On the waterfront: NZ roles in transtasman runs recalled

Now operated by foreign-owned container ship companies, regular transtasman services were once the domain of Australian and New Zealand lines.

On the Waterfront: Evoking those classical lines

Sunny conditions added to the pleasure of watching the cruise ship Saga Ruby arriving at Port Chalmers last week.

Newcomer 'Aurora' one of the season's last cruise ships

The annual summer cruise ship season is starting to wind down. After today only five more visits are scheduled before it ends early next month.

On the Waterfront: Three interesting maiden visitors to port last week

Three vessels of particular interest made their maiden visits to the harbour last week. The log ship Port Phillip brought back memories of a well-known Port Line cargo liner, Aetos also called to load logs, and Araon is the first ice-breaker to come our way for almost 39 years.

On the Waterfront: General cargo carrier loads phosphate

Two cruise ships berthed at Port Chalmers on Saturday are <i>Balmoral</i> (foreground) and <i...

On the Waterfront: General cargo carrier loads phosphate

The latest visitor, to Ravensbourne last Saturday, the Chinese-built Montauk Maiden, may have a similar appearance to bulk carriers that have turned up here over the years.

On the Waterfront: New visitor keen to keep sea-going history alive

Another two cruise-ship names will be recorded here for the first time this week, with the arrival of the 2009-built Silver Spirit on Wednesday and the 22-year-old Balmoral on Saturday.

On the Waterfront: Cruise ship's name has long past

The Holland-America Lines (HAL) Volendam has become a regular visitor from the time of its first visit to Port Chalmers on October 31, 2008. It was back for the 22nd time last Friday and the Port Otago cruise ship schedule lists the vessel to make a further 14 visits up to December, 2012. It will be replaced by the larger 81,769gt, 1968-berth Oosterdam.

On the Waterfront: Representative of Seabourn sisters calls on trip round the world

<i>Seabourn Sojourn </i>in Port Chalmers yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber.

On the Waterfront: Representative of Seabourn sisters calls on trip round the world

After an absence of almost five years, the Seabourn Cruise Line returned to Otago yesterday in the shape of Seabourn Sojourn.

On the Waterfront: Hamburg-Suds now has even bigger ships in its fleet

Last Thursday night <i>Dawn Princess</i> was heading to Lyttelton from Port Chalmers. Photos by...

On the Waterfront: Hamburg-Suds now has even bigger ships in its fleet

Further to Hamburg-Suds' 50-year association with this port and the introduction, during the past few years, of larger vessels into the fleet, mentioned last week; I have found even bigger ships have joined the fleet since last October.

On the Waterfront: 'Bahia' group has long history

It all began on January 19, 1961, when the 4106gt Cap Corrientes berthed at Dunedin, representing the Hamburg-Sud group in this harbour for the first time.

On the waterfront: Flying start for year

<i>Trans Friendship II</i> visits Dunedin for the first time. Photos by Doug Wright.

On the waterfront: Flying start for year

Shipping schedules can often be upset.

Past half-century sees British flag give way to others

The year 2010 was an interesting one. Compared with 50 years ago, when most of our overseas import and export trades were handled by cargo liners flying the British flag, they are now the domain of foreign-owned interests.

More first-time visitors still to call this year

The run of vessels making their first visits to this harbour continues for the rest of this year with Hanjin Bombay and SJN Nordic visiting the upper harbour and BC San Francisco calling at Port Chalmers.

On the Waterfront 'Florijngracht' on maiden voyage

This year, Leith wharf has been used on 10 occasions by vessels loading logs. Two more log ships are due there before the end of the year. However, in a few days' time, it will also be occupied by the brand-new, Chinese-built Florijngracht, which will discharge the first shipment of wind farm equipment to be handled in the upper harbour.

On the Waterfront: HAL links go back to early '60s

Cruise ship Volendam is scheduled to keep calling until 2012. Photo by Rakiura Helicopters.

On the Waterfront: HAL links go back to early '60s

The Holland America Line (HAL) Volendam, which first arrived here on October 31, 2008, was back on its 18th visit last Friday.

Dutch tanker among four new visitors

Another week of activity with four vessels making their first visits to the upper harbour. It commenced yesterday with the arrival at Ravensbourne of Duncan Bay. Fanoula and Voge Renate will also be berthing there and the Dutch-owned tanker Iver Excel at Dunedin.

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Doug Wright