MS Princess of Tasmania
 MS Princess of Tasmania on the slipway of the Newcastle dockyard, about to be launched into the water | |
| History | |
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| Name: |
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| Owner: |
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| Builder: | State Dockyard Newcastle, New South Wales.[1] |
| Yard number: | 61 |
| Laid down: | 15 November 1957 |
| Launched: | 15 December 1958 |
| Maiden voyage: | 23 September 1959 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 5284986[1] |
| Fate: | Scraped, Alang, India, March 2005[1] |
| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| 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 Nohab 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 |
M/S Princess of Tasmania was an Australian-built roll-on/roll-off RO/RO passenger ship. She was built by the NSW State Dockyard in Newcastle, New South Wales (identified by the shipyard as No. 61) for the Australian National Line. The vessel was laid down on 15 November 1957, and 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 Nohab 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.
Princess of Tasmania sailed on her maiden voyage on 23 September 1959. On entering service, she was used to service the Devonport – Melbourne route. The ship continued operating until 1972, when 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. 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. 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
The ship was scrapped at Alang, India in March 2005, after 46 years of service and 10 names.
External links
- Photos of Tasmanian ferries
- Bass Strait Passenger Ships
- Princess of Tasmania at faktaom fartyg (Swedish)
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