A rare shot of the Moanas together - Tiare Moana left, Fetu Moana right
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Built in the Kaldnes Mek. Verk yard in Tonsberg, Norway, , she is powered by two 1700hp MAN diesel engines, giving a service speed of 13.5 knots.
Ice strengthened, she boasts two holds, one for general cargo and the other for refrigerated goods. Both are served by two 3 tonne derricks, one heavy-lift derrick for loads up to twenty tonnes, and one 5 tonne crane.
Also boasts a side port, a door in the ship's side which opens to form a ramp onto the wharf. Forkhoists can then drive on board and place the cargo on elevators which move same to the appropriate deck, where another forkhoist would stow the cargo.
Sourced from Ships of NZ Facebook page
Sailed from Auckland to the Cook Islands, Tahiti and Niue Island in conjunction with the Foreign Affairs Department of New Zealand between 1977 and 1989, occasionally visiting Onehunga in the early years of the service until the decision to operate solely from Auckland was made in 1982, delays to voyages due to conditions at the Manukau Heads being one of the conditions cited for the switch.
Cargoes carried south included copra and orange juice from Rarotonga, bananas from Aitutaki, taro and coconut cream from Niue and, when in season, pineapples from Atiu or Mangaia.
She endured her fair share of fun and games up in the islands, an example occurring in April 1983, when her bridge was damaged and deck swept clear of cargo by a tropical storm when travelling twixt Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
After being sold by SCNZ, she served a variety of interests in the United Arab Emirates, Panama, Belize and India before Mongolian interests acquired her in 2004, presumably to be broken up.
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