It is interesting to note that while 18 cruise ships that have called here since October 1994 have come from Italian shipyards, vessels flying the Italian flag are seldom seen here.
Until African Star arrived last week, there had been calls by only 14 Italian-registered vessels since March 1963. These comprised three cargo liners and two container ships from the Lloyd Triestino fleet, the 1948-built cruise ship Italia Prima, four tankers, one bulk carrier, two small general cargo vessels and a research vessel.
So it has been left to the Naples-registered African Star to make local history in being the first Italian-owned vessel to load logs here. It arrived from Zhangzhou last week to commence loading. However, with berthage space at a premium, it had to vacate the Beach St berth and go to anchor to allow cruise ship Sea Princess to use the berth last Thursday. It returned that evening and departed on Saturday for Gisborne.
Built by the Oshima shipyard, the 23,272gt, 42.004dwt bulk/lumber carrier was delivered on January 10, 1991. The vessel commenced its career as Western Bell for Skibs A/S Belships, of Oslo. Then, from 1996-99, it was sailing under the flag of Panama as Western OMG.
Another change of name and transfer to Maltese registry saw it operating as Tzini until it became African Star after purchase by Medstar S.R.L, of Naples, in May 2008.
And, still on an Italian theme, the MSC-chartered Italia is due on its 10th visit this week. The 37,209gt, 3029teu vessel was the third of seven sister ships built at Kiel by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft for Zim Integrated Shipping Services, of Haifa, and was formerly named Zim Italia.
First to enter service, on April 1, 1990, was Zim America, which later served as Andaman Sea from 2007 until last November, when it was bought by the Costamare group. The MSC-chartered ship berthed here for the first time on August 8 and returned on September 29. Having photographed the ship on both of its departures, I never expected that, six days after making its second visit, Rena would make headline news in a saga that will continue for some time yet.
Coming to an end?
The phenomenal run of container ships calling here for the first time is tapering off. With the arrival of Maria-Katharina S. last Thursday and RHL Aurora next Wednesday, 27 will have turned up here since July 20.
These two are on charter to CMA CGM and are both geared vessels built in China.
Maria-Katharina S. is owned by an Elsfleth company that includes the ship's name, and is registered at St Johns under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. A 26,435gt vessel, it has a capacity of 2546teu including 400 reefer plugs.
Built at Jiangyin by the Jiangsu Yangzijiang yard, the 22-knot ship was laid down on November 20, 2008, launched on August 18, 2009 and handed over on January 7, 2010.
RHL Aurora is the fifth of a class built by the Guangzhou Wendong yard that have called here on CMA CGM charters.
Operated under the Liberian flag, the ship is operated within the Reederei Hamburger Lloyd group by MS Matthias Claudius Schiff.
Keel-laying on December 26, 2005 was followed by the launching on March 28, 2006 and delivery on June 6, 2007. And until receiving its present name six months ago, this 18,480gt, 1732teu vessel had traded since new as Matthias Claudius.
Ocean Pluto, in port over the weekend, is the third unit from the Ocean Tankers fleet of Singapore to visit Dunedin in the past four years. Registered to the ownership of Xin Dun Shipping Pte Ltd, the 30,965gt, 50,539dwt vessel came from the Shin-A yard at Tongyong, South Korea, and has been in service since July 6, 2007.
