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Suilven
Sails on... |
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| SUILVEN
SAILS ON... |
Ex CalMac and
Strait Shipping's Suilven made her last sailing from Wellington to Nelson
on the morning of 26 March 2004, and returned to Wellington on 27th March
for lay-up at Aotea Quay whilst air-conditioning units were fitted.
She was sold to Bligh Water Shipping, of Suva, Fiji, a new shipping
company with no previous ships. They are to trade as Suilven Shipping, and
that name was painted on the port side of the ship in large white letters
to replace the previous Strait Shipping logo.
Her registry was changed from Wellington to Suva on 16th April 2004, and
she sailed from Wellington as Suilven in the late afternoon of 16th April
2004 on a five day voyage to Suva. She is to retain her name Suilven an
will not be renamed.
She was initially planned to sail with up to four hundred passengers on a
regular service between Suva (on Viti Levu), Savusavu (on Vanua Levu) and
the island of Taveuni, about 150 kilometres east of Savusavu. Other routes
may be also considered later.
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Suilven with new livery
Picture: Mike Pryce (
Larger Copy) |
Suilven in port
Picture: Mike Pryce
(
Larger Copy) |
The above photos were taken on the 16th April 2004. A few hours later, Suva had been painted
as port of registry under her name at the stern.
Clearly visible still on her sides are the raised Caledonian MacBrayne
lettering.
SUILVEN first arrived at Wellington on 13 October 1995, and operated
across
Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton for many years. When Strait
Shipping purchased the French ferry SANTA REGINA in late 2002, SUILVEN
transferred to their Wellington to Nelson service.
She was always regarded as a good looking ship, unlike some of the modern
versions! |
Battling storms out of Wellington harbour
Picture: John Travers
(
Larger Copy) |
Battling storms 6 February 2002
Picture: John Travers
(
Larger Copy) |
Text Thanks To Captain Mike Pryce, Wellington, New Zealand. |
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