MS Princess of Tasmania

MS Princess of Tasmania was an Australian-built roll-on/roll-off passenger ship. She was built by the State Dockyard in Newcastle, New South Wales for the Australian National Line. Laid down on 15 November 1957, she was launched on 15 December 1958. As built, the ship had a tonnage value of 3,964 gross register tons (GRT), was 113.32 metres (371.8 ft) long, had a beam of 17.73 metres (58.2 ft), and a draught of 4.74 metres (15.6 ft). Two 9-cylinder Nydquist & Holm Polar M69TS diesels supplied 8,600 horsepower (6,400 kW) to the propellers, allowing a maximum speed of 17.75 knots (32.87 km/h; 20.43 mph). Up to 334 passengers and 142 vehicles could be carried. Princess of Tasmania was given the IMO number: 5284986. The ship was the first RO/RO passenger ship in the southern hemisphere, and at the time of launch, the largest vessel built in Australia.[1][2]

A promotional display for the ship, in a shop window in Melbourne in 1960

Princess of Tasmania on the slipway of the State Dockyard about to be launched in December 1958
History
Name:
  • 1959-1975: Princess of Tasmania
  • 1975-1984: Marine Cruiser
  • 1984: Majorca Rose
  • 1984: Equator
  • 1984-1985: Nomi
  • 1985-1988: Adriatic Star
  • 1988-1991: Lampedusa
  • 1991-1992: Shahd Fayez
  • 1992-2000: Al Mahrousa
  • 2000-2005: Tebah 2000
Owner:
  • 1959-1972: Australian National Line
  • 1972: Bahamarine Ltd
  • 1972-1977: Canadian Ministry Of Transport
  • 1977-1984: Rideau Shipping Co Ltd
  • 1984: Dolphin International Shipping
  • 1984:'Equator Shipping Co Ltd
  • 1984-1985: Comeret
  • 1985-1988: Adriatic Ferries
  • 1988-1991: Traghetti delle Isole
  • 1991-1992: Fayez Trading & Shipping
  • 1992-2000: Al Mahar Marine Co
  • 2000-2005: Nouran Navigation
Builder: State Dockyard, Newcastle, New South Wales
Yard number: 61
Laid down: 15 November 1957
Launched: 15 December 1958
Maiden voyage: 23 September 1959
Identification: IMO number: 5284986
Fate: Scrapped, Alang, India, March 2005
General characteristics
Tonnage: 3,964 GRT
Length: 113.32 metres (371.8 ft)
Beam: 17.73 metres (58.2 ft)
Draught: 4.74 metres (15.6 ft)
Propulsion: Two 9-cylinder Nydquist & Holm Polar M69TS diesels, 8,600 horsepower (6,400 kW)
Speed: 17.75 knots (32.87 km/h; 20.43 mph)
Capacity: 334 passengers, 142 vehicles
Crew: 67

Princess of Tasmania sailed on her maiden voyage on 23 September 1959. On entering service, she was used on the Devonport to Melbourne route across Bass Strait. The ship continued operating until 1972, when replaced by the Empress of Australia.[3] She was sold to Bahamarine Ltd, then to the Canadian Ministry Of Transport later that year. In 1975, she was renamed Marine Cruiser. Two years later, the ship was sold to Rideau Shipping Co Ltd, which operated her until 1984.[1][2]

Over the course of 1984, the ship was renamed twice (Majorca Rose, then Equator) and changed hands three times (to Dolphin International Shipping, then Equator Shipping Co Ltd, then Comeret). In 1985, the ship came into the ownership of Adriatic Ferries, and was renamed Adriatic Star. Three years later she was sold to Traghetti delle Isole and renamed Lampedusa.[2]

Traghetti continued to operate her until 1991, when she was acquired by Fayez Trading & Shipping under the name Shahd Fayez. A year later, the ship was sold to Al Mahar Marine Co and renamed Al Mahrousa. Al Maher owned the ship until 2000, when she was sold to Nouran Navigation and named Tebah 2000.[2][4]

The ship was scrapped at Alang, India in March 2005, after 46 years of service and 10 names.

References
  1. Plowman, Peter (2004). Ferry to Tasmania: A Short History. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 100–107. ISBN 1 877058 27 0.
  2. The long, long story of the Princess of Tasmania Afloat Magazine January 2012
  3. Re-shuffle of Bass Strait cargo services by ANL Freight & Container Transportation February 1972 page 6
  4. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Princess of Tasmania (1959)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish).


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