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.
The last reefer to make a visit, to load fish, was Columbia in September, 2005. And the last to load apples, in May, 2001, was Saronic Bay. Frio Hellenic, due here for the first time this evening, will be mixing the old methods of transport with the new.
For this reefer will berth at the multipurpose berth at Port Chalmers to drop off empty containers to be loaded with apples. The ship will then move up to Leith wharf to load apples in the conventional way, into its refrigerated holds. It will then return to the lower harbour to reload the containers it discharged.
Hellenic Frio is interesting in that it flies the flag of Panama, is Greek-owned, and was built in Russia. The ship is on charter to Seatrade, the world's largest reefer operator and is classed with Germanischer Lloyd. They record it as being a 9997gt, 11,070dwt vessel having a speed of 20 knots.
Four cranes, each of 20 tonnes capacity, serve the ship's four holds which have a total refrigerated capacity of 12,730cu m. The ship also has a container capacity of 324teu, of which 234 are carried on deck.
Owner of the ship is the Explorer Marine S. A., a company that is part of the Laskiridis Shipping Company Ltd, of Athens.
Their fleet comprises about 45 reefers and also eight chemical/oil tanker and four Suezmax crude oil carriers. Lakaridis have a number of handysize, Panamax and post-Panamax bulk carriers on order in China and South Korea.
Frio Hellenic was built at Mykolayiv by the DP Sudnobudivnyl 61 Kommunara shipyard. Its keel was laid down on it April 20, 1995, launching took place on February 21, 1998, and it entered service in January, 1999. Incidentally, the smaller 6971gt Lakaridis-owned Saronic Bay was delivered from these builders in January, 2001.
The company that has been known as Seatrade since 1973, was established in the Netherlands in 1951 by five Groningen captains who owned small vessels. Still head-quartered at Groningen, the Seatrade group operates about 130 reefers, mainly through their Antwerp-based Seatrade Reefer Chartering affiliate.
In port last week for the first time last week, Pacific Pearl was the last newcomer in this season's cruise ship calendar. Amongst the oldest of the visitors the 1800-berth , diesel-electric vessel, has experienced a much more colourful, name-changing career.
The 63,524gt vessel was ordered by the Vlasov group's Genoa-based Sitmar Line. Built by the St Nazaire yard of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the 240.60m-long vessel was launched in 1988 as Sitmar FairMajesty.
In July,1988, Sitmar was purchased by P&O, and the ship was completed in January, 1999, as Princess Cruises' Liberian-flag Star Princess. Nine years later the ship was renamed Arcadia and since then has been registered at London.
The next change came after P&O created Ocean Village Cruises in July, 2003. This brand was aimed at a more youthful market to attract younger couples, singles and families with children to try out a sea-going holiday. As the first of two vessels to be transferred to this venture and Carnival PLC ownership, the ship was renamed Ocean Village.
Two years ago the decision was made to close this operation and transfer the two ships for further service with P&O Australia.
Ocean Village Two was taken over in late-2009, and has made two local visits since February, 2010, as Pacific Jewel.
Ocean Village was retained until last year, and after making its final cruise under the Ocean Village brand, it was sent to Singapore for a 36-day refit by the Sembawang shipyard. Following its return to service the ship was officially renamed Pacific Pearl after it berthed at Auckland on December 21.
As for its former names, a new Star Princess, built in 2002, has made eight visits to Port Chalmers. The 2005-built Arcadia, fourth ship of the name in the fleet, has made one, in February, 2010.
