May 2003 Vol. 23 No. 2 Published by South Port NZ Ltd

May 2003 Vol. 23 No. 2 Published by South Port NZ Ltd

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SOUTH PORT’S PEOPLE - SUPPORTING STARS
Participating pupils at Konini School with South Port caps much in evidence. South
Port Marketing Manager David Prendergast is at right rear apparently seeking
permission to leave the room.
SOUTH PORT 2003 SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTED
This year’s recipient of South
Port’s Community Scholarship is
Gemma Cade, daughter of South
Port’s Cargo Foreman, Peter. Gemma,
now 18, is a born and bred Bluff
resident. After completing five years
at Southland Girls’ High School,
where her sports included netball and
volleyball, Gemma has enrolled at
Otago University for a three year
course to study for a Bachelor of
Teaching, Primary.
With a love of music Gemma has
been involved in the Madrigal Choir,
Sweet Adelines and senior
productions at Southland Girls High
School. During this period Gemma
was also working towards bronze and
silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Gemma has been a keen participant
in community services such as training
nights for St John Ambulance and
assisting Te Ara 0 Kiwa Cub Scout
activities. She also undertook part time
employment as a waitress to help with
education expenses.
During his long service with South
Port Bruce Jones has seen several
family members receive Scholarships
from the company and this year is no
Front Cover:
Tasman Orient Line has upgraded its
service through Bluff. Here the tug
“Monowai” prepares to assist the
“Tasman Endeavour” on her
inaugural visit to Bluff.
The Bluff Portsider is compiled by
South Port N.Z. Ltd
P.O. Box 1, Bluff.
TFN (03) 212-8159 Fax (03) 212-8685
Email reception@southport.co.nz
Website www.southport.co.nz
Mr M. O’Connor, Chief Executive
Edited by Capt. D. A. Edge
Production by Craigs@Atlas
STARS - the letters stand for
Students Taking a Responsible Stand
- is a drug education pro-gramme
targeting intermediate school pupils.
The programme was developed by the
Foundation for Alcohol and Drug
Education, FADE, to inform students
about the dangers of using drugs,
including alcohol and tobacco, and the
effects of their use on mind and body.
South Port is a major supporter of
this scheme. It has been established
in Invercargill for four years but was
launched for the first time in Bluff
this year, with all three local schools,
Bluff, Konini and St Teresa’s,
participating. Local sports stars Matt
Randall (cycling) and Julie Gill from
Sports Southland act as role models.
South Port Chairman John Harrington is flanked by Scholarship winners Gemma
Cade (left) and Phillipa Jones (right).
exception. The 2003 recipient of the
South Port Staff Scholarship is his
daughter Phillipa.
Having completed five years at
James Hargest High School Phillipa
has enrolled for a four year Bachelor
of Applied Science: Environmental
Management course at Otago
University. On completion of the
degree Phillipa would like to work in
the conservation field.
A keen sportswoman Phillipa has
represented her school in waterpolo
and netball and has also been
involved in coaching and captaining
various netball, soccer, basketball and
waterpolo teams.
For the past three years part time
employment at the Invercargill Public
Library and fruit picking during the
holidays have helped towards her
education costs.
A presentation was made to Captain Usmiani, Master of the “Tasman Endeavour”, to
commemorate the vessels first visit to Bluff. Marine Manager Dave Yeowell (left) and
C.E.O. Mark O’Connor (right) are pictured with Captain Usmiani.

JEBSEN VISITORS
When she arrived recently to load for North America the “General
Delgado was making her first visit to Bluff since her days as the
“Jebsen Napier”.
The association between the well known Norwegian
ship-owner A/S Kristian Jebsen and the port of Bluff can be
traced back forty years, but when South Port recently
welcomed the company’s C.E.O. Mr Atle Jebsen and his
wife Arnhild to the port they were making their first visit
here.
Fortunately his ships have been more frequent visitors
and the Jebsen funnel with its distinctive blue zigzag band
is a familiar sight. Many will remember the Bulknes, which
was the first dedicated alumina carrier to the Tiwai Smelter,
although she didn’t carry Jebsen funnel colours. Among
ships that did were units of the Tasman Jebsen New
Zealand Line, a joint venture between Jebsen and the
Tasman Pulp and Paper Company. Sailings commenced in
1986 from New Zealand to South-East and North Asia with
three ships, the Jebsen Timaru, Jebsen Napier and Jebsen
Tauranga, being built for the service, and a vessel closer to
home, the Jebsen Southland, being chartered in. That
service eventually evolved into the present day Tasman
Orient Line.
Jebsens major trade through Bluff in recent years has
been the joint venture with ‘ New Zealand Lumber Shippers
operating a service to the West Coast of North America. The
first sailing from Bluff was in June 2000 and the service
has had the happy experience of successive loadings
establishing record liftings. It has also reintroduced to Bluff
two of the vessels originally built for the Tasman Jebsen
Line, the former Jebsen Timaru and Jebsen Napier, now
renamed General Villa and General Delgado respectively.
We look forward to the next forty years association with
the Jebsen Group.
Bird Island under the bow and Ruapuke astern, the “Tasman
Endeavour” arriving at the Bluff pilot station for the first time.
With the Jebsen house flag flying above, Atle and Arnhild
Jebsen flank South Port C.E.O. Mark O’Connor. Others are,
from left, Karlene Verryt and Russell Slaughter, South Port,
Graham Dobson, N.Z. Lumber Shippers, Steve Kellett and
Nigel Gear, South Port, Steve Callinen-Moore, Jebsens
International Australia, Dave Yeowell, South Port, Frank
Ross, Jebsens International New Zealand and Lindsey Key,
Southland Stevedoring Services.
TASMAN ORIENT
CHANGES
Enhanced cargo liftings out of Bluff have been
straining the capacity of the Tasman Orient Line ships
calling here. The solution? More frequent calls by
bigger and faster ships. The first of these new vessels
to visit Bluff was the Tasman Endeavour, which
arrived for her maiden call on 2 April.
The Tasman Endeavour and her sister Tasman
Provider are 23,700 tonne deadweight multipurpose
ships with a container capacity of 1,200 TEU’s, of
which 150 may be refrigerated. Partnering them on
the East Asia service will be the sisters Tasman
Pathfinder and Tasman Trader, also multi-purpose
ships with a similar service speed of 18 knots. Both
these vessels will already be familiar to businesses
shipping through the Port of Bluff.
Southland exporters are now offered faster transits
to Asian destinations through Bluff with direct calls
in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Thailand and
Singapore.
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A dramatic view of the “Legend of the Seas” clearing the Acheron Passage and turning
towards the Bowen Channel, Dusky Sound. (Photo courtesy of Bid)
Also in Dusky Sound the “Clipper Odyssey” is seen anchored off Pickersgill Harbour.
Six star luxury – the German cruise ship “Europa” seen setting out on the next leg of
her world cruise after dropping her pilot off at Bluff.
Bluff
“THE W
and other
The world comes to Milford Sound.
South Port pilots had another busy
cruise ship season with a mix of first
timers and old timers visiting Fiordland.
Undoubtedly the vessel that attracted the
most attention was The World, a sort of
sea-going condominium for the very
wealthy. The shipowners name, Residen
Sea Ltd, gives a clue to the ships function
as an ocean-going luxury resort fitted with
apartments rather than cabins. Most of
these ‘residences’ have been purchased
outright, although a few are available to
rent, allowing their owners the joy of, as
the ship’s slogan puts it, ‘Traveling the
world without leaving home’. Their mobile
home takes them to spectacular
destinations and allows them to be
present at important sporting events. On
their visit to New Zealand they could
enjoy both, travelling through the
spectacular beauty of Fiordland and
getting a close view of the America’s Cup
races.
This innovative vessel was the
brainchild of Knut U. Kloster Jr, whose
family have been shipowners since
Lauritz Kloster bought his first steamer

Focus
on
ORLD”
cruise ships
in 1906. The family has come a long way
since those early days when cargoes of
ice were transported from Norway to
England, returning with coal. More
recently the family has been associated
with the Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal
Cruise Line and Royal Viking Line. Knut
Kloster was dissatisfied with the limits
of normal cruising and often felt that,
after farewelling his passengers, it was
the Captain’s good fortune to be
returning to his quarters, for the ship
was his home. From this idea of living
aboard the concept of The World
developed. The concept came to fruition
last year in the Trondheim shipyard of
Fosen Mek Verksteder A/S. At 43,000
gross tonnes and just under 200 metres
long The World is far from being the
biggest of cruise ships, but she is surely
the most luxurious. With apartments
costing up to 5.8 million dollars (U.S., of
course) she would have to be.
Lesser mortals, without a spare $6
million, need not despair, for other cruise
ships traversed Fiordland, of which a few
are illustrated here.
Morning has broken – but only just. The sun’s first rays catch the “Pacific Sky” off
Milford Sound.
Seen in Thompson Sound the “Regal Princess” was intended as a fleetmate for “Pacific
Sky”.
For those of hardier mien the “Akademik Shokalskey” again offered cruises from Bluff to
Antarctica and the sub-antarctic islands.
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AMALTAL MOVES SOUTH
First Amaltal vessel to visit Bluff following their move to Bluff was the “Amaltal
Explorer”.
Bluff recently hosted the largest
longline fishing vessel afloat, the
South African registered South
Princess. She began life in 1974 as
another princess, having been
completed as the conventional stem
trawler Princess Anne. A sex change
occurred in 1981 when she became
the Polar Prince and was converted
into a seismic research vessel for
Norwegian owners. Her feminine side
reasserted itself in 1997 when she
passed to Uruguayan owners for
conversion into a longline, side
fishing and processing vessel and was
renamed South Princess. Last year
she was bought by her current
owners, Irvin & Johnson, one of
South Africa’s largest fishing
companies.
The South Princess discharged,
underwent repairs and bunkered in
Bluff.
“RITA” OYSTERS ON
“Rita” being prepared for her 105th fishing season on the Bluff syncrolift.
LONG-LONGLINER
Amaltal Fishing Company recently
announced that it would be shifting
its southern base of operations from
Dunedin to Bluff. With four of the
seven vessel fleet regularly fishing the
Southern Ocean at any given time the
shift south will reduce time spent
sailing to and from the fishing
grounds while South Port’s large
quayside coldstores provide plenty of
storage for the 4,000 tonnes or so of
fish to be landed annually.
Based in Nelson Amaltal is New
Zealand’s third largest fishing
company with a fleet comprising four
factory trawlers, one joint venture
longliner and two fresh fish trawlers.
It is the four factory trawlers that will
be landing their catches in Bluff. Most
are no strangers to Bluff as they have
been occasional visitors over the past
twenty years. We should be seeing
them more frequently in the future.
Perhaps the only four-funnelled ship to visit Bluff – the “South Princess” alongside.
One of the very first Portsiders,
volume 2 number 2 to be precise,
included an article entitled ‘Rita
Retired After Lengthy Service’. In
fact reports of her retirement turned
out to be rather premature as the
Rita is still an active member of the
Bluff oyster fleet and has fished in
three centuries.
Completed by W. H. Brown of
Auckland in 1898 the Rita originally
fished out of Napier. In 1904 she
passed to Riverton owners before
being purchased by Thomas Urwin
and Edward Roderique in 1906.
When this partnership broke up she
passed to Urwin & Company who
fished her until her ‘retirement’ in
1982. She was soon reactivated and
now works for Marjason Oysters,
reputably the oldest wooden vessel in
New Zealand still in commercial
service.

Mediterranean Shipping
Company recently introduced main
line services from New Zealand
giving exporters access to their
world-wide destinations. They are
destinations worth having access to
as MSC serves all five continents and
calls at 215 ports through 175 liner
services. This complements the 250
destinations offered by P&O
Nedlloyd, trans-Tasman partner of
MSC in the ‘Butterfly’ service
between Australian and New
Zealand ports. Two of the newest and
fastest container ships on the
Tasman, the MSC New Plymouth,
and P&O Nedlloyd Nelson, operate
interlocking routes for the partners
with the former vessel serving Bluff
on a fortnightly schedule. When we
featured MSC in the September 2001
Portsider it was the fourth biggest
container shipping company in the
world. Today it is ranked number
two and has over 200 ships exceeding
460,000 TEU capacity.
The Penguin and the Pine
GEARBULKERS AT BLUFF
Of the many bulk carriers that
pass through Bluff it is surprising
how many are on their maiden
voyages. The latest such was the
Navios Arc which terminated her
maiden voyage in Bluff when she
completed discharging fertiliser.
Built in Japan the Navios Arc is
one of the ships operating in the
‘Utra Handymax’ pool jointly
managed by Navios, based in
Stamford, Connecticut, and the
d’Amico Group. The aim of this pool
is to operate ships at the upper end
of the ‘Handysize’ scale focusing on
new-buildings of over 50,000 tonnes.
With a deadweight of just over
53,000 tonnes and her gleaming
paint attesting to her new-build
status the Navios Arc certainly
matches those criteria.
MAIN LINE LINKS
The “MSC New Plymouth” is Southland’s link with a world-wide network of shipping
services.
MAIDEN VOYAGE
The “Navios Arc” reflects upon her fertiliser discharge.
Gearbulk operates the largest
fleet of open hatch, gantry craned
bulk carriers in the, world and from
the 1st to the current 5th generation
ships, Bluff has hosted many of them.
The distinctive Gearbulk profile is
one of the most familiar seen here,
but Gearbulk does operate other
vessel types. During the late 1990’s a
quartet of ‘fleximax’ bulk carriers
with conventional, if highly
sophisticated, jib type cranes was
completed for them and the first of
these to visit Bluff, the Pine Arrow
was in port recently. She loaded
aluminium and forest products on
the Gearbulk IMT Lines service to
North America while one of the 5th
generation gantry ships, the Penguin
Arrow, loaded aluminium for the
Orient under a contract of
affreightment.
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The funnel design incorporates elements
of the original Coeclerici one seen below
and Ceres Hellenic’s light blue with a
white diamond and bands.
Scottish businessman Henry Coe
established his company in Genoa in
1895 to import British coal into Italy.
Trade prospered and in 1909 he went
into partnership with local
businessman Alfonso Clerici Sr,
under the style ‘Henry Cloe &
Clerici’. The original coal importing
company was expanded to include
general trading, port terminal
operations and ship agency work.
This lead to the company purchasing
a number of barges in 1912 to assist
in discharging coal at Genoa and, in
1914, to its first shipowning venture
When the Societa Atlantide Italiana
di Navigazione was established as
owners of the steamer Atlantide.
Naturally, the company’s first ship
was employed as a collier, which was
something of a come down for her as
she had formerly been the “Cornwall”
of the Federal Steam Navigation
Company sailing in the Australian
and New Zealand refrigerated trades.
She also served as a Boer War
transport carrying New Zealand
troops to that conflict. Her time with
the company was fairly brief and in
1917 she was sold to other Genoese
owners, who got even less use out of
her as she was captured and sunk by
When the “Red Fern” called she still wore Coeclerici funnel colours.
COECLERICI CERES BULK CARRIERS
The ‘Panamax’ class bulk carrier “Red Cedar” discharging at Tiwai Wharf.
U156 the following year.
By that time Henry Coe had sold
out to his Italian partner but
unfortunately Alfonso Clerici died in
1918. In 1936 Alfonso’s son Jack
Clerici joined the company and the
family has been represented in its
senior management ever since.
Although the company’s business had
diversified coal importing remained
a mainstay of its operations up until
the outbreak of World War 2.
Post war Coe & Clerici resumed
coal imports from Britain and the
United States and also developed
trade with South Africa and
Australia. Towards the end of the
1950’s trade with the Soviet Union
began, which developed to such an
extent that the company opened an
office in Moscow and represented
Italian interests in that market. To
facilitate the transport of coal from
Odessa to Italy Coe & Clerici
resumed shipowning in 1965- with
the purchase of a ‘Liberty’ type
steamer which was renamed Cocler.
Expansion of the shipping sector
began in the 1980’s through the
company’s subsidiaries Bulkitalia and
Socomar, culminating in the takeover
of the dry bulk division of the Royal
Nedlloyd Group in 1992. Bulkitalia
was now the largest private Italian
fleet. This position was further
consolidated with the takeover of the
Fermar fleet in 1994 and Sidermar in
1995. The following year Coeclerici
became the first Italian shipping
company to receive the Quality
System certification by RINA and
Lloyd’s Register.
Paolo Clerici, son of Jack and the
third generation of the Clerici family
to take the helm at Coeclerici, had
been appointed Chairman and
Managing Director in 1992. In 1999
he oversaw a pooling agreement with
the dry bulk interests of Ceres
Hellenic Shipping Enterprises,
another company which had been in
the same family since its inception.
Able to trace its history back to 1824
Ceres Hellenic has always been
controlled by the Livanos family and
is one of the world’s largest shipping
companies. Long serving Ceres
Hellenic Chairman George P. Livanos
was a staunch advocate of
environmental protection. Following
his death in 1997 his son, Peter G.
Livanos, became Chairman and
showed the same commitment in
guiding the company through the new
IS014001 environmental standard
compliance, the first shipping
company in the world to be so
certified.
The pooling agreement became a
merger three years later with
Coeclerici owning 66% and the
Livanos family 34% of the new
company which was named Coeclerici
Ceres Bulk Carriers NV., with a
combined fleet of ‘Cape’ and
‘Panamax’ vessels totalling 19 ships
of over 2.3 million tonnes deadweight.
It is their ‘Panamax’ fleet that trades
to Bluff.