Doug Wright

For the past 55 years, conventional cargo ships and later container ships operated or owned by major Japanese companies in the Japan-New Zealand liner trade have been all products of the Japanese shipbuilding industry.

The name Portland Bay is associated with the largest visiting container ship, a vessel whose colourful career saw it make 43 calls here under four names.

Seldom do we see three tankers arriving at Dunedin within four days of each other.

Diamond Princess, in port on Waitangi Day, along with Asuka II and Amadea, both due this week, have something in common.

Weather conditions last week forced the cancellation of the last cruise ship visit for the season, that of Sapphire Princess.

Eight down and two to go, with Maersk Damascus joining the seven other 2002-built, 4100teu vessels that have left the New Zealand trade since the end of 2006.

It is certainly a month for first visits by units of the Pacific Basin fleet.

With chartered South Korean-built first-time visitors Sky Apollo (in port yesterday) and MSC Brasilia (due next weekend), a total of 38 vessels will have appeared here in the Mediterranean Shipping Company services since the company made its debut here in March 2006.

Harpagon, Mill Hill, Rudby, and three units of the Larrinaga fleet, were all 1943-44 built Liberty ships that called here. All were tramps operated under the British flag by interests that may now qualify them to join the growing ranks of "half-forgotten" shipowners.