Doug Wright

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.

Basel, situated on the River Rhine, is Switzerland's second largest city, the capital of the German-speaking canton Basel-Town, the country's largest railway junction and its only river port.

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

The first foreign flag tanker to call here this year, the Panama registered STX Ace 7, makes its maiden visit to Dunedin today.

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

Since making its first appearance here on December 31, 2000, NYK's 35,309gt, 1786TEU container ship Hakone has become a regular visitor.

In recent weeks a number of older container ships are reported as having been sold for demolition.

MSC Krittika, here last week, and MSC Jemima, due next weekend, are newcomers whose careers have followed similar courses. They are employed on the Europe/Capricorn, Singapore hub service of the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

It is a scene that is not seen here very often, but last Saturday two record breakers, Millennium on its third visit and newcomer Albany Pioneer, were berthed opposite each other at Port Chalmers.

Volendam, the second of the season's cruise ships, makes its first call here next Friday.

Many of us will remember with affection the conventional vessels operated by British companies involved in the New Zealand trade.

This week I take a look at two maiden callers, Challenge Premier and Cap Capricorn, and the sale of two former visitors, Maersk Barcelona and TNT Alltrans.

Another new name was added to Port Otago's berthage records with the arrival of Cap Beatrice last week.

This week's visit by Maersk Jaun, another of the series of 2824 TEU vessels built by the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard at Ulsan, is of special interest.

The Belfast yard of Harland and Wolff Ltd ceased shipbuilding following the completion of a 22,996gt Ro/Ro (roll-on roll-off) vessel in March 2003.

After being absent from this port since October 2002, Hamburg-Sud renewed its local container ship links when the chartered Cypriot-flag Cape Martin arrived on June 10.

This week, I go back 31 years to June 20, 1977, when Melbourne Express made the first of only two visits to Port Chalmers.

It is back to the Clyde again this week with news that The Topaz, the only surviving transatlantic passenger liner built at Glasgow by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, is to be broken up at Alang.

Another veteran, classic cruise liner of special interest has featured in the latest casualty reports.

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