Doug Wright

The second of three CMA CGM's 16.020TEU giant Explorer-class container ships began its maiden voyage 10 days ago from Pusan.

Back on its second visit last Friday, Mare Phoenicium is one of the larger, chartered vessels that has been calling here recently on the Mediterranean Shipping Company's Capricorn service.

As the season winds down, it was welcome last Saturday to the newest of the cruise ships seen here this season, the maiden-calling Marina.

Major companies had their own naming systems in the past, and still do, but long gone are the days when British liner companies trading to this country used the names of British counties, ports and cities throughout the world and, along with New Zealand interests, Maori names.

It is disappointing this port has been denied a chance to host a final visit by Saga Cruises' Saga Ruby, for this veteran would have afforded an opportunity to see one of the last graceful and classic passenger liners of a past era, one in which ships were built to look like ships.

After an absence of 10 years (it was last here on February 6, 2003), the cruiseship Europa, on a world-wide cruise, will be back on its third visit on Saturday.

Costa, Cunard, Holland America, P&O, P&O Australia, Princess and Seabourn are brand names that represent cruise ship fleets that have been linked with calls at Dunedin and Port Chalmers.

Latest reports on the fate of Queen Elizabeth 2 indicate that the former iconic Cunarder is still heading for China.

In this column last Monday I mentioned an American cargo ship that later fulfilled a number of roles.

Records are made to be broken.

Holland America Line cruise ships were introduced to Port Chalmers with the arrival of Maasdam on October 21, 1994.